A POLICE detective (54) attached to the Pienaar cop shop has been killed by officers following an attempted robbery on the N4 toll road near Belfast in Mpumalanga on Friday, 22 August.
Three suspects, aged between 30 and 42 have since been arrested and are expected to appear before the Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, 25 August.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesman Brigadier Donald Mdluli, at about 10pm on Friday, a group of armed individuals who had falsely identified themselves as police officers to occupants of a VW Polo that had parked next to the road to relieve themselves, held the victims at gunpoint and instructed the driver, as well as the rest of the occupants to lie on the ground.
"Fortunately, members from the SAPS Anti Hijack Task Team were patrolling the area due to prior reports of robberies. Members were tactically working on a mission to prevent similar robberies recurring as directed by SAPS operational plans. Upon detecting something suspicious on the roadside, the vigilant members of the SAPS team swiftly came closer and introduced themselves as police officers," he said
Mdluli said the suspects began firing shots at the members while attempting to flee in their car, a white Datsun Go with Mpumalanga registration plates.
"Meanwhile, one of the suspects fled on foot. A high-speed chase ensued, culminating into the suspects' vehicle crashing into a tree on Bhekumuzi Masango Drive. It was during this period when the suspects were cornered at the scene, while the third one, a police detective, aged 54, from Pienaar SAPS, was found dead in the rear seat of the vehicle.
"It's suspected that he could have sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire, however that is subject to an investigation. Two firearms and ammunition were also recovered at the scene, and these items were confiscated to form part of the investigation," he said
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A suspect who fled on foot was also apprehended near the N4 road towards Machadodorp.
The suspects are facing various charges, including attempted car hijacking, robbery with a firearm, and attempted murder as well as illegal possession of firearms with ammunition.
Mdluli said more charges could be added against the suspects as the investigation continues.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ioid) has since launched an investigation after a police van, Toyota Hilux from Pienaar Detectives, was also recovered at a certain farm in Belfast, near where the incident occurred.
"The state vehicle was the one used by the said detective member for standby duties and at this stage, police cannot rule out the possibility that the state vehicle could have been used without authority granted, though that part will be investigated as well," added Mdluli.
