Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Sibongile Manana has hailed three officers who were killed in Amersfoort yesterday as heroes who died while on duty.
Manana was speaking after her visit to the scene where three officers were shot and killed yesterday, Sunday, 25 April 2010 while doing their normal crime prevention patrol by unknown gunmen who were suspected to rob the local bank.
The gunmen refused to be searched and they ran away with a Toyota Conquest. They however came back and are believed to have fired at police officers before they could come out of the police vehicle.
The two constables; Mr Tebogo Maroga (30) and Mr Joseph Molefe (32) died on the scene while a reservist Mr Sabelo Ngwenya (24) died later while going to the hospital.
Manana was briefed that the officers were killed on their second attempt to search the vehicle of the suspected would be criminals. Manana has condemned the killing of the officers and has called on the police to work around the clock to urgently bring the perpetrators to book.
She said the police will not give in to such cowardice in the fight against crime but instead they will be more vigilant in ensuring that criminals do not have any place to run to in this country.
The MEC has further called on the community to come forward and assist the police in their investigations.
Meanwhile, South African Police Service (SAPS) General, Bheki Cele, gave a team talk to the officers at the station adding that they should not retreat but they should hit hard on criminals
"The best way of allowing the murdered officers to have a peaceful sleep is to continue to fight against crime and the course that they died for. Work hard that you do not die with your guns in hands. Defend one another and remember that South African rely on you," concluded Cele.
Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Tel: 013 766 4018
Cell: 072 159 1865
Issued by: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
26 April 2010
Source: Department of Safety, Security and Liaison, Mpumalanga Provincial Government (http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/safety_and_security/home.asp)
