By Kopano Dibakwane
” The attack on police officers is a direct attack on the state.”
This was a stern warning by Mpumalanga provincial commissioner, lieutenant-general Semakaleng Manamela, following the court appearance of two suspects at the Emalahleni magistrate’s court, charged with attempted murder of three police officers, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition, in an incident that occurred on Saturday evening.
A police report revealed that members of the Vosman SAPS(South African Police Service) were conducting stop and search, and patrols along the Hectorway street in Lynville (Emalahleni) when they came under fire from a grey Toyota Avanza with four occupants. The members reportedly returned fire, leading to a shootout.
The suspects allegedly fled but police gave chase and they were caught after their vehicle lost control, smashing into a roadside barricade.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said that the two suspects were arrested and duly charged, while two other suspects managed to flee and are still at large.
” During the arrest of the two suspects, police reportedly discovered a pistol with ammunition in their possession, though the serial number was filed off. The seized weapon is now a subject of investigation and should it be established, through ballistic testing, that the pistol was used in the commission of crime, then more charges could possibly be added against the pair as the probe continues,” said Mohlala.
Manamela said that the reported incident poses a serious danger to the police, as well as the society at large.
” Members will never take this act laying down but they will surely have to respond accordingly. Members of the SAPS should carry out their constitutional mandate without being hindered or threatened by anyone or anything,” said Manamela.
