A manhunt is underway for suspects involved in the fatal shooting of two police officers in Roodepoort earlier today. The officers, stationed at the Florida Police Station, were ambushed while transporting a business robbery suspect from court to Boksburg Prison.
Details of the Attack
According to South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the two detectives—a warrant officer and a sergeant—were part of a trio task team. They had just collected the suspect, identified as Jabulani Moyo, a Zimbabwean national arrested in 2023 for business robbery, from the Roodepoort Magistrate Court.
While en route to Boksburg Prison, their unmarked Toyota Corolla was attacked. The officers were shot and killed, and their firearms were stolen. The police vehicle was later found abandoned a few kilometers from the crime scene.
Suspect at Large
Authorities are still determining whether Moyo was directly involved in the shooting or if other suspects intercepted the officers.
“We are not sure if it was the same suspect they were transporting who shot them or if other suspects stopped our police officers,” said Masondo.
One officer was declared dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries upon arrival at the hospital. The families of both officers have been notified.
Ongoing Investigation
A high-level investigation, led by the deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection, is underway. SAPS has urged anyone with information to come forward as the search for Moyo and possible accomplices intensifies.
This brazen attack has raised concerns over the safety of law enforcement officers, with authorities vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice.
