The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is reeling yet again after the killing of Sergeant Mphakameli Mazinywana from the Mthatha Central Detectives unit in the Eastern Cape Province on Friday evening.

The victim and his wife were apparently woken up by their barking dogs, and upon investigation, were confronted by two suspects who had broken the door to gain and wielding two pistols.

These suspects apparently demanded the state firearm from Sergeant Mazinywana, and upon delay, started shooting the Sergeant, searched for the firearm and took it. The suspect shot Sergeant once more before fleeing the scene.

It is alleged that 6 cartridges and three projectiles were collected from the scene, and fingerprints were detected.

This brutal killing takes place at a time when South Africa has, since the beginning of this year, lost over 30 police officers at the hands of brazen criminals.

There are targeted killings of police officers, and not much is being done about it, leaving many angry and vulnerable. They consider themselves to be neglected victims; that the authorities do not care about their safety and security and fail to do anything concrete about the situation.

In their view, the overall perception is that the SAPS appear to be reluctant to do anything. Many of our officer are killed when on and off-duty, due to the kinds of cases they are handling, their firearms, the lack of respect of the community for police, poor levels of trust and cooperation between the two.

POPCRU calls for an urgent dialogue in liking into the causal factors of this onslaught, and possible remedies.

We urge members of the community to provide any details that could lead to the arrest of these suspects.

Issued by POPCRU on 20/06/2021

For more information contact;

Richard Mamabolo

SECRETARIAL: Media Communication Officer

Address:1 Marie Road, Auckland Park,2092

Tel:011242 4600/15 Fax:086 625 3054

Cell: 066 135 4349 / 063 695 6663

Email: mamabolor@popcru.org.za