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Cape Town - Most of the police killings committed in the country this year took place in the Western Cape and Gauteng, Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu said on Friday.
She was speaking outside the home of slain policeman Warrant Officer Petrus Holz, 50, after she visited the bereaved family, accompanied by the provincial police's top brass.
Holz was stabbed to death on the N2 near Macassar while changing a tyre in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Since the start of the year, 52 officers have been killed nationally, Sotyu confirmed.
"Most of the policemen we have lost are skilled members. They are difficult to replace. One officer is one too many. It means that the community has fewer people looking after them."
Two men appeared in the Somerset Magistrate's Court on a murder charge on Friday morning.
The case was postponed to August 7 for further investigation.
The men, aged 22 and 27, were arrested in Macassar on Wednesday.
"They apparently were not aware that the person they were killing was a police officer," she said.
Holz had been driving an unmarked car.
She commended the Macassar community who pointed out the suspects to authorities.
"By them doing this, we are proud to say [the suspects] have been arrested."
Cluster commander Major General Johan Brandt said attacks along the N2 started in 2012, and a number of arrests had been made over the past three years.
"A group was identified by the community, who have been working with detectives after the incidents started picking up again in January," he said.
Police would be meeting with Sanral, which is responsible for the national road, and community policing forums to come up with a strategy to combat the roadside attacks, Brandt said.
"What we want is a complete safety plan to protect this route."
