The body of a police officer was found near Somerset West, Western Cape on Christmas morning.
The body of an officer who worked at the Lingelethu West Police Station was found by fellow police officers in Lwandle, near Somerset West on Sunday morning.
Brigadier Novella Potelwa, the police spokesperson said the officer’s service pistol was missing. The state vehicle that he was driving was found a few metres away.
Potelwa said that the 33-year-old police constable who had worked until the early hours of Sunday morning had allegedly suffered stab and gunshot wounds.
She added that an injured man was found in the vicinity of the crime scene and was being questioned by detectives.
“As part of investigations into the murder of the 33-year-old constable on Lwandle, Western Cape detectives are currently questioning an injured man who was found in the vicinity of the crime scene.”
The name of the 33-year-old police officer will only be released after his family has been informed.
Potelwa said the Hawks have taken over the investigation.
She said that his official firearm was taken and that the state vehicle he was driving was found some metres from the body.
Potelwa added that contact was being made with the family of the deceased police member and his identity would be released once his next of keen has been informed.
The murder of the police officer comes after another cop was shot while chasing a wanted suspect that escaped custody in November while making a court appearance in Mtsafeni, near Nelspruit in Mpumalanga.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the police spokesperson said the suspect Bheki Martin Phiri, was on Thursday seen at a tuckshop.
When officers arrived, he fired shots at them. He fled off when the police officer started firing back at him.
The officer was shot in the hand during the shootout and was taken for medical treatment.
Source: The Citizen, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @TheTruthPanther