KEY POINTS
- Off-duty SAPS officer killed in Inanda robbery after exchanging fire with suspects
- Wounded attacker captured, but four accomplices remain at large
- Incident highlights alarming trend of police-targeted violence in KZN
A 36-year-old Police officer was fatally shot during an armed robbery in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday afternoon.
The off-duty police officer had stopped at a local tuck shop on Mafukazela Drive when five armed suspects ambushed him, firing multiple shots before fleeing with his service weapon in a silver Volkswagen Polo.
“The officer managed to return fire, wounding one suspect in the arm before succumbing to his injuries,” confirmed Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Provincial Commissioner. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) reported recovering numerous 9mm cartridges at the crime scene, while the injured suspect was later apprehended at a nearby clinic.
Rising robbery attacks on law enforcement spark national concern
IOL reports that the killing marks the seventh police fatality in KZN this year, highlighting growing dangers faced by officers both on and off duty.
Police Minister Bheki Cele is expected to visit the grieving family as police unions call for improved protective measures. “This brutal attack shows criminals’ increasing boldness,” said POPCRU provincial secretary Mbali Mhlongo. “Our members are being hunted like animals.”
Community activists point to Inanda’s 42% year-on-year increase in violent crime as symptomatic of broader security challenges. The township recorded 187 armed robberies last quarter alone, with police resources stretched thin across multiple hotspots. Provincial authorities have pledged additional patrols and ballistic testing to track the stolen firearm.
The murdered officer, whose identity remains withheld pending family notification, had served with SAPS for nine years. Colleagues described him as “a dedicated public servant who always volunteered for community outreach programs.” A memorial service is planned for Friday at the Durban Central Police Station where he was stationed.
