Cape Town – SAPS management has condemned an attack on a police officer by gun-wielding suspects at a post office in the Ngcolosi Administrative Area in Tsolo, Eastern Cape.
The incident took place 42km north-west of Mthatha on Wednesday morning when the police officer was part of a deployment to provide security to grant beneficiaries at the post office when about four unidentified suspects armed with AK-47s held up people at gunpoint.
A shootout ensued and the officer was wounded in the upper body, SAPS said in a statement on Thursday. The officer was then dispossessed of his automatic rifle, service pistol and an undisclosed amount of money before the suspects escaped in a bakkie that was allegedly stolen.
’’As a result the suspects managed to take away his automatic rifle, the service pistol and an undisclosed amount of money, before escaping in a bakkie allegedly belonging to one of the people who were in the vicinity at the time of the incident,’’ SAPS said.
’’As the police were chasing after the suspects, they found the vehicle abandoned about 20 kilometres away from the scene of crime.
’’The injured officer was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. He is reported to be in a stable condition.’’
Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga has wished the injured officer a speedy recovery. She has vowed that the police will not rest until the suspects are found.
Cases of business robbery and attempted murder have been registered for investigation. No arrest have been made at this stage.
IOL