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The South African Police Services (SAPS) are on a widespread search for assailants who shot and killed a constable, leaving others injured, during a gunfight and alleged robbery in Bizana in the early hours of the morning.
Bizana police personnel had attended a murder scene, and as three patrol vehicles headed back to the CBD, they were suddenly ambushed by approximately 20 gunmen near the Total Filling Station. The first vehicle managed to bypass the ambush and reach the local police station to report the matter to the station commander. Both occupants had sustained gunshot wounds. The second vehicle was also shot at, causing the driver to lose control and crash into an electric pole.
A report stated that the assailants ran to the vehicle and forced the four police officials out at gunpoint, disarming them of one R5 rifle and four 9mm pistols. The suspects then took the police personnel to the filling station, forcing them to lie on the ground with the employees. The assailants waited for more police officials and fired on the third patrol van as it arrived, killing the driver. The vehicle swerved, collided with an electric pole, and crashed into a shop’s wall. The attackers then confiscated a female sergeant’s service pistol, leaving her seriously injured in the van with her deceased, unarmed partner.
It is alleged that the suspects attempted to blow up the cash safe inside the filling station but failed. They then fled the crime scene on foot. All three injured police personnel were taken to the nearest hospital.
Citizens have voiced their concerns on the municipality’s official Facebook page. Dikida Shozi Tshona stated, “I was going to create our own municipality network, but they don’t want me here. This network can support public safety initiatives such as emergency response systems and surveillance networks. We could avoid incidents like this if we tried anything possible to have a smart town,” pointed out Tshona.
A Facebook user on the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality page, Seme Nkali, said, “Ever since I was born, gunfire has never been this extreme here. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace,” added Nkali.
Sphelele Ndovela commented on the importance of installing cameras for documenting events across Bizana town, an issue significant in many parts of the country but still lacking in some areas.
Lastly, Mlamli Gqumani expressed his condolences, sending tears and prayers to the family who lost a loved one and a breadwinner.
The Mayor of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality, TD Mafumbatha, has extended her deepest condolences to the family of the police officer who lost their life in the tragedy.
A docket has been opened at Bizana police station, and the investigation is underway as no arrests have been made yet.
