Police would not back down in the face of obvious criminal threats to their lives, according to Xolile Nqatha, the Eastern Cape’s MEC for transport and community safety.
This comes after police in Ngqeleni’s Canzibeni neighbourhood shot and killed a 35-year-old suspected extortionist on Friday.
The incident took place as public order policing officers were investigating a tip about two extortion and robbery suspects who were allegedly causing mayhem in the Ngqeleni neighbourhood of Canzibe.
The suspects were apprehended after being located outside a nearby tavern.
The suspects allegedly started shooting at the police after spotting them, and two officers allegedly fired back.
While the first suspect was critically injured, the second, a 35-year-old man, managed to escape. Additionally, police found a 9mm Norinco handgun and ammunition.
The police are on the hunt for the suspect who escaped after a shootout.
MEC Nqatha has praised the police for persisting in their efforts to combat crime.
Respect the law or face its full might
“Police must not hesitate to defend themselves when brazen criminals draw their guns and attack them,” Nqatha said.
“As the provincial government, we continue to call on criminals to be law-abiding citizens or face the full might of the law.”
General Fannie Masemola, the national commissioner of police, issued a warning in September that attacks by criminals on police officers would not be tolerated.
This came after a member of the national intervention unit, which is looking into extortion claims in the area, was attacked at the unit’s base in Mthatha.
According to Masemola, police have a responsibility to protect.
“We are not going to fold our arms and allow a situation where our dedicated and hard-working police officers, who are entrusted with investigating and tracing hardened criminals, are targeted,” said Masemola.
“We will not tolerate attacks on our men and women in blue who are doing all they can to put a stop to incidents of extortion and all other crimes.
“We continue to urge our members to act decisively when faced with danger.”
