Policeman dead, colleague criticized after attack

(Photo: Archive photo)

A police officer is dead and his colleague in a critical condition after they were shot at on their way home after work.

The officers, attached to the Madeira detective unit in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, were targeted in the New Brighton area in Ngangelizwe.

According to Brig. Police spokesman Nobuntu Gantana said the officers were shot while they were sitting in an Isuzu bakkie outside the woman officer’s house.

According to preliminary investigation, a white VW Polo was spotted some distance from the scene about two hours before the shooting.

“Two men got out of the Polo and approached the Isuzu and fired shots. The suspects then fled the scene.”

The policeman was shot in the torso and head and was pronounced dead at the scene. His colleague was hospitalized in a critical condition.

The deceased’s name will be released as soon as all his next of kin have been notified of the incident.

Gantana said the motive for the shooting is not known at this stage.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Stop Crime on 08600 10111.