Cape Town - Two suspects arrested in connection with the killing of a police officer and wounding another in Killarney Gardens are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court today.
Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase said the unit’s serious organised crime investigation team in Bellville, along with Crime Intelligence and the national intervention unit, arrested the two on Friday.
This comes after the two police officers were greeted by a hail of bullets from a group of armed robbbers, two of whom made their getaway from the scene of an armed robbery at a business in Killarney Gardens.
Both police officers were shot, but 48-year-old Nametso Molema succumbed to his injuries.
Nkwalase said the other officer was recuperating in hospital and the two suspects were also in hospital under police guard after they were arrested following a shoot-out with police.
Police spokesperson Novelwa Potelwa said one alleged robber, a 34-year-old man, was wounded and arrested at the scene. A second suspect, aged 36, who also sustained a gunshot wound, was apprehended in the vicinity. Two other suspects were still at large.
Provincial police commissioner Thembisile Patekile has visited the family of Molema, who died at the scene.
“The loss of the sergeant and the injury sustained by the other police member is unfortunate. We undertake to use all resources at our disposal to hunt the outstanding suspects.
“They must be brought to book. In the same breath, we warn police members to be vigilant at all times as they face brazen criminals who would stop at nothing in the execution of criminal incidents,” Patekile said.
Anyone with information on the suspects on the run can contact Crime Stop anonymously at 0860010111 or the SAPS via the MySAPSApp.