The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a manhunt after a police official was shot and killed while on duty during a crime prevention operation on Wednesday, 12 July, in Khayelitsha.
Reports from the scene have indicated that members of Khayelitsha police station’s crime prevention unit were conducting a stop and search operation in Q-Block at approximately 9:30pm according to a press statement issued by the SAPS.
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This was when SAPS members came under fire from an armed suspect.
The SAPS has since opened a murder and attempted murder docket, with the investigation now being taken over by investigators attached to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).
Psychosocial support for the colleagues of the deceased officer has been provided by the SAPS employee health and wellness practitioners.
The identity of the deceased constable will be released once his next of kin have been informed.
Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, Western Cape provincial commissioner, has assured that no resources will be spared in tracking down the person responsible for the killing.
‘It is disheartening that police officials who are deployed to bring safety to communities, find themselves being targeted by criminals. Our reinforced deployments are hard at work in efforts to apprehend the suspect,’ said Patekile.
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Picture: @SAPoliceService / X