By: Natasha Archary
The South African Police Services (SAPS) has called on communities to join the fight against crime after 5 officers were shot this weekend.
Over the past 72-hours, SAPS reports that 5 members were shot in 3 provinces, with 3 succumbing to their gunshot wounds.
The shootings took place in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Mpumalanga, were suspects were armed and fatally wounded officers who were attempting to make arrests.
#sapsHQ #SAPS Management mobilises resources to apprehend police killers. In the last 72 hours, 5 police officers in three provinces were shot and wounded, with three of them sadly succumbing to their injuries. #PoliceKillings #CrimeStop #MySAPSApp ME pic.twitter.com/wNWX5JWp1u
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 27, 2022
In Gauteng, a 45-year old Crime Intelligence Officer from Reiger Park was shot and killed. The officer was following up on a lead during a murder investigation at the Joe Slovo Hostel.
He was shot multiple times while patrolling the area in a state vehicle by a group of armed gunmen.
The officer died on scene and suspects made off with his firearm.
In a separate incident in Eldorado Park, a SAPS official was shot and wounded when attending to a callout in Freedom Park.
KwaZulu-Natal lost an officer on Sunday morning during a shootout on the highway which involved the Empangeni Flying Squad.
A 45-year old officer was fatally wounded, with another officer sustaining gunshot injuries.
During a robbery in Mpumalanga on Friday, a 37-year old sergeant was shot and killed.
Police arrested 6 supects and seized 8 firearms.
Now SAPS is calling for communities to take a more active role in the prevention of such crimes. SAPS management is urging communities to report crime and help protect police from brutal killings.
While measures are in place to ensure safety of SAPS members both on and off duty, the need for increased partnership policing cannot be stressed enough.
Families of the deceased SAPS officers are receiving counselling, while prayers for the officers in hospital have been extended.
#sapsHQ #SAPS management is calling for greater cooperation from communities by actively joining the fight against crime to end the scourge of police attacks and killings. #PoliceKillings #CrimeStop #MySAPSApp MEhttps://t.co/5xj1gcoIjt pic.twitter.com/WCVLIq4dDc
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 27, 2022
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