Whiteriver – A police sergeant was shot dead Monday morning and his colleague was wounded when the law enforcement officers responded to an armed robbery at a supermarket in Chochocho in Masoyi, near Whiteriver, Mpumalanga.
The slain police officer has been named as 38-year-old Sergeant Vusi Siwela.
The wounded police officer – also a sergeant – has been hospitalised.
Both police officers are from the visible policing unit at the Masoyi Police Station.
The police were alerted about the robbery after robbers used explosives to blast open the supermarket doors.
When the police officers arrived the robbers had gained entry into the supermarket.
The robbers shot at the police before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash and cigarettes.
Mpumalanga Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela expressed her sadness over the attack on the two police officers and further conveyed condolences to the bereaved family of Sergeant Siwela.
Lieutenant General Manamela also wished a speedy recovery to the other injured sergeant.
“We are very much concerned about the number of police killing incidents in the province. The public should remember that these members are assigned to assist them,” Lieutenant General Manamela said.
“The killing of police officials and members from other law enforcement agencies undermines the efforts by the states to prevent, combat, and investigate crime.”
The robbers remain at large.
The police have asked anyone with information about the robbery at the supermarket, the shooting incident, and the whereabouts of the suspects to call on 08600 10111.
