PORT ALFRED – “The safety of our police officers is of paramount importance. On a daily basis, our members are reminded of the importance of their safety as they constantly encounter hostile forces that threaten their safety. Late Saturday evening one of our members who took the necessary safety precautions was spared as he was shot at in his upper body. The bullet that was aimed at him penetrated his jacket and hit onto his bullet-resistant vest. An attack or killing of a police official undermines the authority of the State and will in no way be tolerated” said Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt General Liziwe Ntshinga.
Three suspects, two aged 33 and another aged 48 are due to appear in the Alexandria Magistrate’s Court this week following their arrest on Saturday evening, 17 August 2019. They face charges of a Robbery and Attempted Murder.
Members of Alexandria SAPS responded on foot to a report of a robbery in progress at a general store in Alexandria a few meters from the local police station. It is alleged that unknown males held a client and the store owner at gunpoint and robbed them of a cell phone and an undisclosed amount of cash.
When members arrived at the scene, the suspects started firing shots in the direction of the members who returned fire. One of the members narrowly escaped being hit by a bullet which hit his upper torso and ricocheted. The suspects then got into white VW Polo and fled the scene whilst SAPS officers were in hot pursuit. The vehicle was eventually stopped and the driver and his passenger were arrested. Members who were on foot managed to arrest a suspect who fled on foot. Cash and items taken from the store were seized from the suspects.