SAPS national commissioner General Fannie Masemola has vowed that the police will work tirelessly to secure a watertight case against the suspect who allegedly shot and killed two members of the Kimberley Flying Squad on Tuesday morning.
SAPS national commissioner General Fannie Masemola has vowed that the police will work tirelessly to secure a watertight case against the suspect who allegedly shot and killed two members of the Kimberley Flying Squad on Tuesday morning.
The deceased police officers, 35-year-old Constable Okaetse Mandindi and 45-year-old Sergeant Kedimetse Masilo, were tracing a stolen vehicle when they were fatally shot.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Masemola commended the police for the swift arrest of the 38-year-old suspect.
“Sergeant Masilo joined the service in 2007 and had 16 years of service at the time of her death while Constable Mandindi joined the service in 2012 and at the time of his death had been serving for 11 years,” said Mathe.
Masemola vowed that the SAPS would ensure that justice prevails for the families, friends and colleagues of the fallen police officers.
He noted that the killing of the two officers happened a week before the commemoration of 34 members who died in the line of duty in the 2022/23 financial year.
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“We will work hard to secure a watertight case that will result in a lengthy conviction for this perpetrator,” said Masemola.
Mathe said the suspect is expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a number of charges including two counts of murder.
“To Sergeant Masilo and Constable Mandindi, while the arrest of your perpetrator will not bring you back, may your souls rest in peace knowing that you died serving and protecting South Africa and all its inhabitants,” said Mathe.
STOLEN VEHICLE
Northern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien said that the two Kimberley Flying Squad members were shot and killed while trying to apprehend the suspect, who was wanted in connection with the theft of a motor vehicle in Bloemfontein.
“The two members, a constable and a sergeant, were following up on information about a stolen hired vehicle that was apparently en route from Bloemfontein,” said Gamieldien.
“The vehicle was spotted in Kimberley and the two members gave chase and followed the vehicle into the Transnet premises, where the suspect drove into a ditch. He then fled on foot.
“The members gave chase on foot and were fatally shot. The armed suspect fled the scene.”
Gamieldien said that the provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Otola, launched a manhunt for the suspect.
The 38-year-old suspect was later arrested on the Riverton road.
Gamieldien added that Otola sent her condolences to the families of the deceased police officers.
“Lieutenant-General Otola is saddened and shocked by the fatal shooting of the two members. She conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and colleagues of the two fallen members.”
CITY MALL SHUT DOWN
Earlier on Tuesday morning there was widespread panic at the Diamond Pavilion Mall when the suspect, after allegedly shooting the police officers, apparently entered the mall armed with an R5 rifle belonging to one of the slain officers.
This sparked a massive police response and the mall was closed off.
While some shoppers were apparently told to leave the mall, others stayed inside stores where the doors were locked and people were seen taking cover on the floor.
