Two men accused of shooting and killing an off-duty police officer at a bar in Richmond, Sunday, were arrested on the day of the incident.
Constable Njabulo Cebekhulu (32), who appears to be from Lovu, is said to have been shot dead by one of the suspects who was going to reprimand him for playing with a gun in an open area.
It turns out that the deceased – who was not at work – heard gunshots coming from inside Shames Tavern, and volunteered to look there.
It is said that when he got inside, he found out that the person who fired the gun, was arguing with another person, and fired the gun in a crowded area. It turns out that when he said he was trying to rebuke the man who fired the gun, he turned it towards the deceased and shot him repeatedly. It is said that he was rushed to the hospital, but when he arrived he was confirmed to be in the hospital.
The deceased was said to have worked for the Richmond police station for four years.
The Mayor of Richmond Municipality, Mr. Melikhaya Ngcongo, said they applauded the sudden arrest of the suspects.
“The deceased, who loved his job and cared about public safety, went to the suspect to try to intervene. Unfortunately, the suspect responded with a barrage of bullets, he shot and killed the suspect,” said Ngcongo.
He appreciated the hard work of the police, the Community Policing Forum (CPF) as well as members of the public for working together, which led to the arrest of the suspect and his companions.
He said the sudden arrest of the suspects will bring back the dignity of the law and send a strong message that those who commit such crimes will face the law.
He revealed that after making a move, the suspect robbed the deceased of his service gun and threw it away. It appears that when Ngcongo went to the police station, where the deceased was working and when he went to the scene of the incident, efforts were being made to call him.
Sympathizing with the family of the deceased, he said the police are also human beings, the difference is that they put their lives at risk to protect the public.
“We express our deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues, and everyone who was close to him. We sympathize with them for his brutal passing,” he said.
Attempts to contact the family of the deceased were unsuccessful.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza, said the Richmond police are investigating a case of murder after an off-duty police officer was shot inside a bar.
“A police constable was shot when he tried to investigate the gunshots that came from inside the bar,” said Magwaza.
He went on to say that after several gunshots were heard inside the bar, it was discovered that the policeman had been shot.
“She was rushed to the hospital where she died,” said Magwaza who said the incident happened early Sunday morning.