Two metro police officers are in hospital after being shot in Manenberg when they tried to pull over a car travelling with no lights.
|||Cape Town - Two metro police officers are in hospital after being shot in Manenberg early on Saturday morning, when they tried to pull over a car travelling with no lights.
The officers were conducting routine patrols on Govan Mbeki Drive when they spotted the white Volkswagen Polo which, unknown to them, had been hijacked in Athlone.
After signalling the driver to pull over, one of the occupants of the stolen vehicle opened fire on the officers, according to mayor committee member for safety and security JP Smith.
Both men were shot a number of times and, despite wearing bullet-proof vests, were seriously injured. One of the officers was shot in the arm and through the shoulder, and the other in the right leg.
Smith said they were stable but would remain in hospital for further treatment and observation.
Deputy metro police chief Yolande Faro said a female officer in the car at the time was saved by her quick-thinking colleagues, who told her to take cover in the vehicle. Faro said she was shaken but unhurt.
The city is offering a R100 000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful conviction of those responsible.
Smith also made reference to other incidents on Friday night, which he said proved to be a “dangerous night for uniformed officers” in the city.
Officers had been attacked in various locations, including two policemen by protesters in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, another policeman shot at in Hanover Park, while a provincial traffic officer was shot at and robbed on the N7 near Dunoon.
Smith said the traffic officer was lured to a stationary vehicle on the N7, then attacked as he approached it. He was robbed and shot at, but managed to get away and radio for help.
Cape Town