KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and, Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu, has expressed shock and dismay at the murder of yet another police officer just a week after a body of another officer was found dumped in Greytown.
Constable Gugulethu Ximba (33), attached to Port Security Services in Durban, was shot and fatally wounded while she was in her vehicle entering her home yesterday, Monday, 15 July 2013 at 18h30 at “J” Section in Umlazi.
She was rushed to hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her service pistol was also taken during the shooting. She was shot four times and sustained gunshot wounds to her neck, chest and right arm.
She is the second police officer to be murdered in weeks. Another police officer and a woman were brutally murdered and had their bodies dumped on the side of the road in Greytown.
The two were identified as student constable Xolani Kwela (26, stationed at Pinetown police station, and Sindisiwe Ngcobo (25). In this case, two suspects, including a police officer, have been arrested and were found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Commenting on the murder of Constable Ximba, Mchunu said the targeting of police officers in this spate of murders was appalling and disturbing. “These are men and women who have sacrificed their lives to defend and protect communities against criminals. Yet now they have become targets of heartless individuals who want to impose a reign of terror on communities.”
“This is something that the Government and communities will not accept at all. Police and security agencies will make sure that the perpetrators of this callous deed will be brought to book to face the full might of the law,” said Mchunu.
He said a case of murder had been opened at Bhekithemba Police Station in Umlazi and the crime busting Hawks have been tasked to probe this matter. Mchunu extended his heartfelt condolences to the family of Constable Ximba, assuring it that police were doing everything in their power to arrest those responsible for this.
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