The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Khehla Sitole has learned with sadness on the morning of 4 March 2021, of the killing of yet another police officer as well a motorist in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal.
It is reported that at 07:15, a 55-year-old police detective captain who was stationed at Umkomaas Detectives, was killed in a drive-by shooting by unknown four assailants on the M14 Road, Roseneath area.
The suspects’ vehicle was fortunately spotted by Umkomaas members on patrol driving recklessly. A chase ensued when the police started to pursue the suspects.
The suspect’s vehicle is alleged to have crashed into a truck during the high speed chase. The suspects got out of their vehicle, robbed and fatally shot a motorist aged 33 years before speeding off from the crime scene in the victim’s vehicle.
A case, with two counts of murder and carjacking has been opened for investigation at SAPS Umkomaas.
The 72-Hour Activation Plan has been implemented to mobilise all the necessary resources needed, including members from Crime Intelligence, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation as well as Forensic Crime Scene Management, to investigate this incident.
The National Commissioner has urged all members of the SAPS to be extra vigilant at all times and to utilize their tactical expertise learned through various training programmes offered to them while on and off duty, especially with the recent surge of police killings. “This commonality of the modus operandi and crime patterns of brutal killing of our police members as identified, is under investigation to uncover the root causes which will enable us to investigate and prevent these gruesome crimes from taking place again,” said General Sitole.
The National Commissioner also sends his condolences to the family of the slain member as well as the family of the 33-year-old motorist.
We are appealing to anyone who might have witnessed this incident or any other to call Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or send tip-offs on MySAPS App.
All information received will be treated with confidentiality.
