The National Commissioner of Police, General Kehla John Sitole has condemned the senseless killing of two off duty police officers and a community member in KwaZulu-Natal in separate incidents. General Sitole has also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and well wishes to the injured community members that were caught in the middle of the shootout between police and suspects in Kranskop.
In the first incident a police Warrant Officer was killed at about 14:00 on 15 March 2019, in Amanzimtoti on the N2 highway just before the Seadoone Road off ramp while a Detective Constable was killed in Kranskop in a shootout just after 21:30 last night that ended with three bystanders being hit by stray bullets.
One young man was declared dead on the scene while the other two are in hospital recovering from the gunshot wounds.
The slain Warrant Officer who was stationed at KwaMakhutha Police Station was allegedly driving his private bakkie on the N2 when an unknown number of suspects driving a white Audi A3 opened fire on his vehicle. His bullet riddled bakkie was found stationary on the side of the road. The police officer’s body was found in the middle of the road with multiple gunshot wounds.
The second incident occurred in Kranskop at a shisanyama outlet. Preliminary investigations suggest that the Detective Constable went out to investigate a suspicious vehicle that was driving up and down the street. As soon as he walked out, he was met with bullets from the occupants of the suspicious vehicle.
He managed to pull out his service pistol but two suspects alighted from their vehicle and continued firing at him. Another off-duty police officer at the outlet also stationed at Kranskop responded to the sounds of gunfire and two of the suspects were shot and wounded. Their accomplices managed to drag them into the car and they fled the scene, leaving behind one of their firearms.
The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic tests to determine if it has been used in another commission of crime.
Regrettably the shootout left three bystanders also shot by stray bullets. A young man was declared dead on the scene while another man and a woman were taken to hospital for medical assistance. They are both reported to be in a stable condition.
All crime scene management experts including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations attended both scenes to comb for exhibits in response to the instruction by the National Commissioner that the 72-Hour Activation Plan be implemented to ensure that all the necessary resources required to crack these cases are mobilised.
Two bodies of perpetrators that are believed to have been involved in the Kranskop shootout were traced and found in Seven Oaks as well as the vehicle that was used as a getaway car from the scene.
The National Commissioner has expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the slain police officers and the young man. He has also directed the province to ensure that the families of the deceased are afforded the necessary support during their time of mourning and beyond. The National Commissioner has also wished the injured community members a speedy recovery.
The Police are calling on anyone with information that can assist in the investigation to call Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Callers may remain anonymous and all information received will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
