Pretoria – A member of the Hawks’ Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS) was fatally wounded Thursday afternoon in a shootout with armed men in Mamelodi during an operation.
Three suspects were shot dead in the deadly shootout.
“It is alleged that the TOMS members held observation at a house in Mamelodi where it was purported that high calibre rifles were kept at some residence in the area,” said Brigadier Nomthandazo Mbambo.
“Today, on 08 June 2023 the TOMS members executed an operation upon receipt of information regarding the mentioned illegal firearms kept in a shack at an informal settlement in Lusaka, Mamelodi.”
Brigadier Mbambo said the information was operationalised and the TOMS team tactically approached the given shack.
“As they approached the address, the suspects took shots at the members and a shootout ensued,” said Brigadier Mbambo.
“Three suspects were fatally shot, and one TOMS member was fatally wounded. Several firearms were seized.”
The National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, expressed “his heartfelt sadness at the loss of a dedicated member of the Hawks”.
Lieutenant General Lebeya added: “The proliferation of illegal firearms in our communities is resulting not only in the murders of innocent people but also robs us of the lives of police officers who have sworn to defend this country and its inhabitants”.
