Free State police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng, says the Thabong Task Team, Welkom Serious Crime and mine security were following up on information about one of the suspects involved in a fuel station robbery during which a police officer was wounded in his right shoulder. He says on 6 December 2022, at about 22:05, a 42-year-old police sergeant from the Task Team had to jump over the wall of the house that has high walls, a fence and a steel gate. According to Thakeng the suspect the police were after, started firing shots in the direction of the police officer that had jumped the fence. He was shot in his stomach and was rushed to the hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. The suspect managed to flee the scene with a white Volkswagen Polo.

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“We are looking for this foreign national, possibly armed with an AK47. We are appealing to anyone with information, please come forward, so that we can ensure that the perpetrator is brought to book. We are on a manhunt now. We are working around the clock to ensure that the suspect is arrested,” he adds.

Thakeng further explained that the house was searched and seven (7) hand radios, with three chargers and a black balaclava, were found and seized and an additional charge of murder of a police officer has been registered.

He appealed to anyone with information regarding the tracing of this murder suspect, armed with an AK47 rifle, to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or visit their nearest police station.

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Meanwhile, the 37-year-old Mangaliso Stephen Hoko, who is a petrol attendant and a suspect in the robbery that took place at the fuel station, is expected to apply for bail on 9 December 2022.

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