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Cape Town - Two suspects involved in the shooting of two female traffic officers in Cape Town last week were arrested on Thursday, Western Cape police confirmed.
The two officers were awarded for bravery by the City of Cape Town on Thursday, having both survived the ordeal.
- Read more: Brave cop drives self, wounded partner to hospital after drive-by
Princess Nkomo and Mandisa Plaatjie were patrolling in Harare, Khayelitsha, last week Tuesday when two men travelling in a Toyota Avanza shot at them.
Plaatjie was hit in the arm and Nkomo in the stomach and leg. Plaatjie drove them to a local hospital, where they were operated on.
The officers said the attackers wanted to steal their firearms, but both worked unarmed - a choice all traffic officers were given.
"The perpetrators took the officers' cellphones and wallets. One officer was shot in the leg and the other in the stomach and leg while sitting in the vehicle," spokesperson Constable Noloyiso Rwexana said on Friday.
"This breakthrough sends a strong message that those who are involved in criminal activities will be harshly dealt with," Rwexana added.
The suspects, aged 26 and 30, are facing charges of attempted murder and armed robbery and will appear in the Khayelitsha Magistrate's court on Monday.
'We have to be more alert'
Provincial Transport and Public Works MEC Donald Grant honoured the pair in Athlone on Thursday, both having been released from hospital this past week.
Nkomo and Plaatjie teared up as Grant spoke. Nkomo rested her left foot on a bucket while listening to his speech.
"We're feeling much better," a smiling Nkomo told News24 after the ceremony.
"All I can say is, out there it's very dangerous. Everything happened quick and we have to be more alert.
"But we'll try our best to recover and then we'll come back and do what we do, our jobs," she said confidently.
When she was released from hospital on Wednesday, Nkomo said she couldn't wait to see her 5-month-old baby again.
Colleagues said they looked forward to having Nkomo and Plaatjie back at work.
Two Cape Town police officers honoured for bravery after surviving a targeted attack in Khayelitsha. (Paul Herman, News24)
