The police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, in a statement, says in the first shooting, a former police officer was shot by two men in Ratlou in Thaba Nchu on Tuesday night. He was referred to a hospital in Thaba Nchu and later transferred to Bloemfontein.

He says another officer was then shot and killed by the same suspects in Wepener. The suspects are said to have also wounded a third officer stationed at the Van Rooyen's port of entry, following a shootout. 

Makhele says a civilian female passenger in the vehicle of the second officer was shot in her stomach by a bullet that pierced through the head of the second officer who died on the scene. 

No one has been arrested and the suspects are presumed to have fled to the neighbouring country of Lesotho.

“On 29 June 2021, at about 20:00, a former police official was hijacked outside his house in Ratlou, Thaba Nchu, by two armed men. He was shot in the hand and his white Toyota Hilux was stolen. He was referred to the hospital in Thaba Nchu and later transferred to Bloemfontein.

The stolen vehicle was spotted in Wepener by an officer on duty. The vehicle was stationary, seems to be experiencing a flat tyre. The member stopped not far and called the station to circulate the registration number to confirm if it's the stolen bakkie,” Makhele adds.

He says following the shooting of the first officer in Ratlou in Thaba Nchu the two men approached another officer and requested assistance, and when they realised that he was enquiring about them, they allegedly shot him through a slightly opened window.

“He was shot on the right side of the head and the bullet went out on the left and hit a civilian lady (33) who was in the vehicle. The 53-year-old member died at the scene whilst the lady was referred to a hospital in Bloemfontein. The police official's service pistol was taken as well.

Just after this incident, a police sergeant (36) from Van Rooyen's port of entry passed the scene with his private vehicle. The suspects approached him to request a wheel spanner. Realising that he is a police officer since he was wearing a police uniform, they fired shots and he was hit in the shoulder. He returned fire and managed to find cover at the Correctional Services Centre whilst requesting backup. Suspects fled the scene and tried to drive the vehicle towards Lesotho but failed due to a tyre problem. The vehicle was later found abandoned near Tsupane Road in Wepener. The injured police sergeant was referred to a hospital in Bloemfontein,” Makhele further adds.

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