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THE police officer who was killed in the line of duty in Kranskop has been described as a dedicated member who was feared by criminals.
Detective Thandoluhle “Ndo” Mhlongo, who was stationed at the Kranskop SAPS, was shot dead while he was investigating a suspicious vehicle that was driving up and down the street in Kranskop.
Kranskop police spokesperson Sergeant Delisile Ndwandwe said Mhlongo was always in the forefront of the fight against crime. “He was not intimidated by criminals. He was a kind of a member who would even work when he was off duty to ensure that the community is safe. The community of Kranskop has lost a police officer who was dedicated to his job. He was part of the community developments projects in the area and he worked well with his colleagues at the SAPS,” Ndwandwe said.
According to the police, Mhlongo walked out of a food outlet to investigate a suspicious vehicle when he was met with bullets from the suspects in the vehicle.
Colonel Brenda Muridili said in a statement: “He managed to pull out his service pistol, but two suspects alighted from their vehicle and continued firing at him. Another off-duty police officer at the outlet also stationed at Kranskop responded to the sounds of gunfire and two of the suspects were shot and wounded. Their accomplices managed to drag them into the car and they fled the scene, leaving behind one of their firearms.
“The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic tests to determine if it has been used in another commission of crime.
“Regrettably, the shoot-out left three bystanders also shot by stray bullets. A young man was declared dead on the scene while another man and a woman were taken to hospital for medical assistance. They are both reported to be in a stable condition.”
Crime scene management experts, including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, attended both scenes to comb for evidence in response to the instruction by the National Commissioner that the 72-hour Activation Plan be implemented to ensure that all the necessary resources required to crack these cases are mobilised.
Muridili explained: “Two bodies of the perpetrators that are believed to have been involved in the Kranskop shoot-out were traced and found in Seven Oaks as well as the vehicle that was used as a getaway car from the scene.”
In another incident, another Warrant Officer was killed in Amanzimtoti on the N2 highway just before the Seadoone Road offramp. The slain Warrant Officer, who was stationed at KwaMakhutha Police Station, was allegedly driving his private bakkie on the N2 when an unknown number of suspects driving a white Audi A3 opened fire on his vehicle
In a statement sent to the Gazette, National Commissioner of Police General Kehla John Sithole condemned the senseless killing of two off duty police officers in separate incidents. Sithole also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and well wishes to the injured community members that were caught in the middle of the shoot-out between police and suspects in Kranskop.
Mhlongo’s memorial service will be held tomorrow, March 21 at the Kranskop SAPS. He will be laid to rest at his rural village of KwaMaphumulo on Saturday, March 23.
