They have now mobilised all resources for the sole purpose of finding the killers.
National police boss General Khehla Sitole on Wednesday called for swift action in finding and arresting the killers of a top cop in the Ackerville township of eMalahleni.
Lieutenant-Colonel Simon ‘Sy’ Maseko died of six bullets outside his Ackerville home late Tuesday this week.
He was driving his Mercedes Benz and was coming from work when at least two men ambushed him after he had opened his gate. He died on his driveway.
The incident happened on Mtsuki Street in the Ackerville township of Mpumalanga, before 8 on Tuesday night (16 Apr).
Maseko, in his 50s, was a Lieutenant-Colonel, working at Vosman police station.
National police boss General Khehla Sitole said the attack of an officer of law “is an attack on the nation”.
“I have tasked the [Mpumalanga] provincial team to spare no resources in tracking down those responsible,” said Sitole.
“As a nation we need to rally together to bring these continued attacks on our men and women in blue to a grinding halt,” said the police boss.
Police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said Maseko’s killers left the scene without taking anything.
He said the motive for killing the man is still not known “at this stage”.
“General Sitole has instructed that the 72-hour Activation Plan be mobilised,” Naidoo said.
“This is a plan which entails the mobilisation of critical disciplines and resources of the SAPS including crime intelligence, forensic experts and seasoned investigators both from the police and the Hawks to ensure that no intelligence and evidence which could help track down the killers is lost,” he said.
Naidoo said that the police activation plan will also be supported by a specialised tactical team that will include members of the task force, the national intervention unit and/or the tactical response team “when the need arises”.
The SAPS is appealing to members of the public with any information on the killing of Maseko assist them by calling 086 00 10111. Callers may remain anonymous and information will be treated with “strictest confidence”.
(edited by MLM)
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