Two police officers were shot dead in Sebokeng, south of Johannesburg, on Thursday morning, Gauteng police said. Further information on the killings was not immediately available.
On Wednesday morning, a 44-year-old policeman was shot dead at the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Reiger Park, east of Johannesburg.
Captain Katlego Mogale said the warrant officer was shot while he and a constable were on patrol in the area.
The men were on their way to the station when a woman ran up to them and said that two men had been threatening her with a gun. The officers approached the men who then ran in different directions. The officers split-up and pursued the men. Mogale said the constable ran down the road and the warrant officer ran into a lane between the shacks.
“Moments later, the constable heard shots and returned to investigate. He found the warrant officer lying in a pool of blood.”
Cop killed in Eastern Cape
Another policeman was shot and killed while investigating a stock theft case on a farm near Burgersdorp.
Warrant Officer Leon Nieuwoudt (38) from the Aliwal North stock theft unit, and another officer found four stolen sheep on Monday, Brigadier Marinda Mills from the Eastern Cape police said in a statement.
His colleague left him at the scene and Nieuwoudt later called in to say he had arrested two people and needed help.
“On the arrival of his colleagues at about 2.15pm, they found him with two gunshot wounds to his body. His official firearm was missing, but none of his other possessions were taken.”
Cop killed in Limpopo
In another case, a police officer was shot and killed in the early hours of Saturday morning while driving home from work in Limpopo’s Matilu village.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mohale Ramatseba said the 49-year-old officer from the Grobblersdal police station, was found lying in the middle of the road with a gunshot to his head and a large cut on his leg.
“His firearm is missing and the police vehicle he was driving was found parked on the side of the road. It also appears like he was run over by a vehicle ,” said Ramatseba.
It appeared as though someone tried to cut off the officer’s leg with a sharp object, he said.
The Star newspaper reported this week that at least 53 police officers have been killed since January. – Sapa