Six Police Officers Killed in Line of Duty Since April – Masemola

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has revealed that six police officers have been killed in the line of duty since the beginning of April.

Masemola made the announcement while visiting the grieving family of 47-year-old Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni, who was gunned down in Mpumalanga on Friday. Mtshweni was among a team of officers responding to a business burglary in Schoemansdaal when they came under fire from a group of ten suspects.

Earlier the same day, the Commissioner also paid his respects to the families of Warrant Officer Vuyisile Sintwa and Sergeant Simon Masenye in Gauteng. The two officers were ambushed while transporting awaiting-trial prisoner, Jabulani Moyo, from the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court to Boksburg prison.

“It is a very sad day where we have lost three members in the space of 48 hours. These are not ordinary numbers,” Masemola said. “Last year alone, we lost 27 members in the line of duty. Since April 1, with Sergeant Mtshweni included, we have now lost six. We will never tolerate this type of behaviour.”

Police investigations into both incidents are ongoing.