Africa-Press – South-Africa. The community of Mabopane, Tshwane chased and apprehended a suspect believed to have been involved in the murder of an off-duty police officer during a home invasion.
The suspect is one of three individuals who attempted to rob the family of Sergeant Tumelo Losaba in the early hours of Sunday.
According to national police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, Losaba lived with his mother who is a lieutenant colonel.
Mathe said Losaba shot and killed one suspect but another suspect shot Losaba, who succumbed to his injuries.
Losaba’s mother was unharmed during the attack.
One suspect drove off in a grey Audi A3 sedan.
Mathe said:
The community handed the suspect to the police and he has been charged with murder.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili condemned the incident and said all resources have been mobilised and a manhunt launched to arrest the remaining suspect.
“We have mobilised all our resources… we would also like to thank the community of Mabopane for being active citizens in the fight against crime; the safety and security of our members on and off duty remains a priority for the SAPS and management continues to review its policies and strategies in place to enhance police safety”, said Mosikili.
At the time of his death, Losaba was attached to the Rapid Rail Police Unit at the Mabopane Corridor.
Psychologists and chaplains from the service’s Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) unit have been dispatched to provide psychosocial services to the family.
Mosikili has reminded communities of their pivotal role in assisting the police in clamping down on criminality and encouraged them to take an active role in the community police forum structures in their respective communities.
“Members of the public are also reminded that in South Africa, any citizen is allowed to effect a citizen’s arrest.
“To carry out a citizen’s arrest, the crime must have happened in your presence or by having a reasonable suspicion that the suspect may have committed a crime. The intent of the citizen’s arrest must be to hand over the suspect to the police.”
The SAPS has sent condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Losaba and Mosikili was expected to visit the family on Sunday afternoon.
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