Two Police Officers Killed While Responding To Mthatha Spaza Shop Robbery
Two police officers were shot and killed while responding to a reported robbery at a spaza shop in Libonde township, Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape, in the early hours of Friday.
The officers, who were attached to the Mthatha Public Order Policing Unit, were responding to a report that armed suspects were attacking the owners of the spaza shop and demanding money.
Police said the officers were shot during the response. Their service pistols were also taken.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Nobuntu Gantana said a manhunt had been launched for the suspects.
Police Activate 72-Hour Operation
Gantana said the investigation covers multiple offences linked to the incident.
“The matter is being investigated as two counts of murder, two counts of attack on police, two counts of robbery of police firearms and one count of attempted business robbery. A multi-disciplinary team is on the scene, and a 72-hour plan has been activated to trace and arrest the suspects. Preliminary intelligence is being followed up.”
The identities of the suspects had not been established in the information provided.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Tracing Suspects
Police said a multi-disciplinary team was working at the scene as investigators pursued leads in an effort to identify and arrest those responsible.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation. Police have not provided further details about the suspects or the weapons taken from the officers beyond confirming that their service pistols were stolen.
Investigation Continues
The case includes the deaths of both officers, attacks on police and the robbery of police firearms, as well as an attempted business robbery.
Police said preliminary intelligence was being followed up as part of the operation to trace the suspects.
