The national police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo, says the female police officer was killed in Mahikeng in the North West following a botched heist. He says a group of armed suspects travelling in a Mercedes Benz and a Ford Ranger attacked a cash-in-transit vehicle on the Mahikeng and Lichtenberg Road. He adds that the officer was killed after sustaining a gunshot wound to her head and in the event, three civilians were also wounded during the shooting. Naidoo says no arrests have been yet been made but intensive investigations continue. OFM News previously reported that a Free State police Lloyd Poonyane (41) was killed in Orkney near Kanana outside Klerksdorp (NW) and his colleague Lydia Tladi (45) was wounded by at least five Lesotho nationals.

He says the suspects used explosives to gain access to the cash but before actually removing the cash from the CIT vehicle, members from the Hawks and the National Intervention Unit responded. “The suspects fled in both vehicles without taking any money [and] a high-speed chase ensued towards the Mafikeng CBD. Police lost track of the suspects in the Mercedes Benz, but the chase for the Ford Ranger continued to Mahikeng where a shootout ensued between the suspects and the police in the CBD,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the National Commissioner, Sitole Kehla, has conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased and called upon the SAPS leadership in the Province to immediately mobilise the 72-hour Activation Plan.

"I have directed that our various police units throughout the country be on the lookout for these suspects,” Sitole adds. “We appeal to anyone with any information on this matter to please contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or provide information via the SAPS MySAPSApp. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence and callers may remain anonymous,” Naidoo also adds.

OFM News