The National Police Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Bheki Cele, has commended members of Tactical Response Team (TRT) for their swift action in apprehending and tracking down suspects that shot six SAPS members in Bizana, in the Eastern Cape yesterday evening.
One member was shot and killed and others survived the heavy calibre gunfire whilst responding to an armed robbery.
This morning the General Cele and the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Celiwe Binta, visited the wounded police officers as well as the scene where the police members were shot.
The suspects used heavy calibre assault rifles and attacked police officers killing one and wounding five on the spot. General Cele has sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of our fallen member, 25 year old Constable Manwabisi Gqamane. All wounded officers have been hospitalised and are in a stable but critical condition.
The Port Shepstone TRT Unit and the Kokstad Dog Unit responded to information and about 10pm last night they came across two suspicious vehicles, a BMW and one Opel Corsa.
The occupants of the Corsa fled the scene but the occupants of the BMW opened fire on police which resulted in a shootout. One suspect was killed and another wounded. Police recovered a 9mm pistol and three bags with an undisclosed amount of cash were found in the vehicle.
At around midnight police followed up on further information and went to a local homestead where they arrested a 38 year old woman and found a bag of coins and six firearms including:
- 1x Ak 47
- 1x R5 rifle
- 2 x 9mm pistols - could be police members from the scene
- 1 x 9mm star pistol
- 1 x 6.5 pistol
From the seven firearms that were recovered, four were stolen from the police officers that were shot. All of these firearms will be sent for ballistic testing to establish if they were used in the commission of the crimes last night as well as other crimes.
"Just as we have tracked down the first two suspects, we will not rest before we bring the others to book," promised General Cele.
For enquiries, please contact:
Colonel Vishnu Naidoo
Tel: (012) 400 6573
Cell: 082 567 4153
E-mail: naidoov@saps.org.za
