Constable Syabunga Thango was shot dead when he and his fellow officers responded to robberies of several shops in Vosloros.
- Another South African police officer has been shot dead.
- Constable Syabunga Thango was shot dead by a group of armed robbers in Foslorus on the East Rand on Friday.
- Earlier this week, NCO Gaonathebe Diphephenyane, who went missing on Monday, was found dead near Ventersdorp in the northwest.
A manhunt is underway for a group of armed robbers who shot and killed a police officer who was responding to a robbery in Voslorus, Gauteng, on Friday.
Constable Syabunga Thango was part of a group of crime prevention officers who responded to the ongoing robberies of several shops in the area.
National Police spokesman Brigadier Atlinda Mathi said that when the officers arrived at the scene an exchange of gunfire took place between the police and the suspects.
“The member was injured and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died,” Mathi said.
Read | Missing Northern Cape policeman found dead in the North West
National Police Commissioner Fanny Masimula ordered the immediate mobilization of resources to assist in the arrest of the gang that killed Constable Thango.
Business burglaries and murders have been registered and are under investigation.
According to the police, Thango had five years of service.
Earlier this week, News24 reported that Warrant Officer Gaonathebe Diphephenyane, 35, who went missing on Monday, was found dead near Ventersdorp in the North-West county.
Warrant Officer Diphephenyane had 14 years of service with the police and was responsible for crime scene management.
Warrant Officer Gaonathebe Diphephenyane was found murdered earlier this week.
He was on official business and traveled to Rustenburg to testify in court but never did. [The] No official vehicle he was in has been found and the police are still looking for it.”
The last location of a state vehicle he was in was near Cattlehong, southeast of Johannesburg.
According to SAPS, at least R25 million has been set aside to ensure the safety and security of police officers on and off the job.
Masimola ordered the mobilization of all major resources and units to track down the suspects behind the cop killings.
The killing of SAPS members continues to be a serious concern for SAPS management. In the past fiscal year, 27 police officers were killed on duty.
According to Mathi, 92 police officers were killed in the last fiscal year. It added that 27 were killed on duty while 65 were off duty.
“We call on communities to work closely with the police, share information on wanted suspects, and stop killing police officers,” she said.
“Report the use of illegal firearms and suspicious activities so we can end these killings by the police.
Police officers [also] Mother and father and their death [often] “They let the families suffer because they are breadwinners,” Mathi said.