State failure and Thabo Bester
Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola. Archive photo: Daniel Steyn

Home » Cop shot at as suspects attempt to enter police building in Pretoria

Cop shot at as suspects attempt to enter police building in Pretoria

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it has launched a manhunt for at least twelve suspects who shot an officer while  attempting to enter a police building in Pretoria, Gauteng. The incident happened on Sunday night, 16 July. SUSPECTS ATTEMPT TO ENTER POLICE BUILDING IN PRETORIA SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said officers who were […]

17-07-23 13:53
State failure and Thabo Bester
Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola. Archive photo: Daniel Steyn

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it has launched a manhunt for at least twelve suspects who shot an officer while  attempting to enter a police building in Pretoria, Gauteng.

The incident happened on Sunday night, 16 July.

SUSPECTS ATTEMPT TO ENTER POLICE BUILDING IN PRETORIA

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said officers who were on patrol foiled the attempt to enter the building.

During the confrontation, one member, a constable, was shot and wounded during the attack. He was taken to hospital for medical care.

“Nothing was taken and stolen from the building,” she said.

ALSO READ: No jail time for police officer who murdered Tembisa Hospital nurse

The twelve suspects were reportedly travelling in a white ford ranger bakkie.

Mathe said the motive for the attempt to enter the building is under investigation.

Parts of the building are reportedly used to store seized and confiscated drugs.

STATION ROBBED BY ARMED SUSPECTS

In 2022, a group of heavily armed men allegedly stormed the station near KwaMhlanga at about 22:00 and made a beeline for the weapons cache.

The suspects reportedly fled with several state-issued firearms and ammunition.

This was not the first time that SAPS has been targeted in their own backyard. On 21 November last year, heavily armed suspects ransacked the Malamulele police station in Limpopo.

They stormed the police station at around 23:00 and held officers at gunpoint. Within minutes, the group had taken firearms and locked the on-duty officers inside a vehicle

ALSO READ: POPCRU angered by unabated murder of police officers in SA