Five Police Members Killed In 24 Hours

Five members of the South African Police Service have been killed in less than 24 hours since 8pm yesterday (Sunday 2011-07-24) evening and this morning (Monday 2011-07-25).

On Sunday (2011-07-24) at approximately 20:00 two members of the East Rand Flying Squad stopped behind a suspicious Nissan Bakkie with two occupants in Old Heidelberg Road, Zonkizizwe. Before the two police members, both Warrant Officers, could get out of their vehicle, the two occupants got out of the bakkie and fired a number of shots at the police.

Both police members sustained fatal wounds to the upper body, one died on the scene and the other died on the way to hospital. It was later established that the bakkie had been hijacked earlier and had run out of petrol. The suspects stole the police members firearms and are still at large. The murder of these two SAPS members brings the number of police members murdered nationally on and off duty to 53 thus far.

Also on Sunday (2011-07-24) at 21:30, a police Constable from Bayside Police station in KZN was killed when he collided with a truck in Umlazi whilst he was on his way home from work. This Monday (2011-07-25) morning two members of the SAPS National Intervention Unit were killed in a head on collision with an Isuzu bakkie on the N2 between KwaMbonambi and Mtubatuba in KZN . The driver of the bakkie also died on the scene and two of his passengers sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

The SAPS is deeply saddened at the loss of five of our colleagues within a very short space of time and express our sincere condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones.

Statement issued by Captain Dennis Adriao, National Spokesperson, National Media Centre, Corporate Communication, Office of the National Commissioner, July 25 2011

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