The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Bheki Cele, has commended his members on having vigorously continued the fight against crime and criminals over the past weekend despite the recent spate of murders of police officials on duty.
On Friday night, 27 May 2011 at about 20h00, police members responded to a call out of a house robbery in progress in Heidelberg, Gauteng. As the police arrived at the premises, suspects opened fire and a shoot-out ensued. A police reservist was shot seven times, but is recovering in hospital.
The three suspects were all fatally wounded and three firearms were recovered on the scene. The victims of the house robbery were unharmed, but the fact that the heavily armed suspects did not resist opening fire on police proves that, without the intervention of the SAPS, they could very well have become victims of violent crime.
On Saturday evening at approximately 17h00 members of the K9 and Durban Flying Squad were patrolling the Chatsworth area in KwaZulu-Natal when they noticed a silver grey Golf which aroused their suspicions. The members stopped the vehicle and the occupants opened fire on the police members. The members returned fire, fatally wounding one suspect, injuring another and arrested the third suspect unharmed.
Two firearms were recovered from the suspects. Two suspects aged 36 and 37 years of age will appear today in the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court on charges of attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. If the members had not protected themselves, our National Commissioner General Cele could very well have been attending a funeral in KwaZulu-Natal again this coming weekend.
Also in KwaZulu-Natal, yesterday two suspects wanted for shooting and injuring Warrant Officer Simphiwe Mthembu on 13 March 2011 and robbing him of his firearm, appeared in the Nyoni Magistrate's court on attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearm charges. The two suspects, Skhumbuzo Khoza and Scelo Mncube were remanded in custody together with a third suspect Bonginhlanhla Zungu who was arrested on the day of the attack.
Last night, Monday 30 May 2011 at 22h15 police members responded to an ATM bombing in Elsburg, Germiston. As police arrived on the scene the suspects fired shots at them, wounding a Constable in the leg. A female police official was slightly injured by shattering glass. The Constable is in a stable condition in hospital and his colleague was treated and discharged. To date no arrests have been made but anyone with information can call 08600 10111 or sms 32211.
In breaking news, the Hawks have just announced that they have arrested a second suspect, a 22 year old man who is under police guard in hospital, in connection with the killing of two on-duty policemen in Kraaifontein, Western Cape. Warrant Officer Matthee and Constable Cloete were buried over the weekend.
The North West Organised Crime Unit has also been busy and arrested a Customs Services Manager attached to the Skilpadheck Port of Entry last night at about 20h00. The arrest was effected in Zeerust. Prior investigations revealed that the senior official was allegedly demanding bribes from car exporters crossing the border from South Africa into Botswana.
The suspect was caught in a sting operation in which R9 000 was deposited into a relative of the suspect's bank account for allowing the complainant's exported cars to cross the border without paying taxes. The 37 year old suspect will appear in the Zeerust Magistrate's Court on charges of corruption shortly.
General Bheki Cele has praised all police officials involved in these investigations and arrests. "The members of the SAPS have, over this past weekend, shown that they can rise to the occasion of protecting the community even over a period when four of their own - gunned down on duty in the prime of their lives - are being buried. I applaud them for their bravery and dedication, even during our gloomiest days we can lift morale by squeezing the space for criminals and making a decisive impact in the fight against crime", said Cele.
Enquiries:
Brigadier Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Source: South African Police Service
