Eastern Cape police have warned communities against attacking police members carrying out their duties following two recent incidents in which officers were set upon by angry residents.
In one recent incident at Libode, police member responding to a fatal taxi shooting were attacked by a group of men and community members who accused the police of being responsible for an earlier attack at a taxi rank.
"Police had responded to an alleged shooting where a taxi had been shot at while off-loading passengers at Vezamandla stop Libode near Gxulu and the suspected vehicle fled towards Port St Johns. A 24-year-old male driver was fatally wounded and certified dead on the scene during this attack," said EC provincial police spokesperson, Captain Khaya Tonjeni.
He said police sent a tracking team in search of a grey Polo that was alleged to have been used during the attack. "Unfortunately, the team was attacked by a group of men and community members accusing them of being responsible for the previous taxi attack when they stopped at the scene," he said.
"During the attack, two police sergeants were injured and sustained stab wounds. One of the stabbing victims managed to draw his firearm and fatally wounded a 28-year-old man. Both policemen were taken to hospital where they received medical attention and are reportedly in a stable condition," Tonjeni said.
He also said whilst "expert investigators were at the scene, it was discovered that a state firearm was stolen during the attack."
Tonjeni said several cases including murder, attempted murder and robbery are being investigated.
In the other incident reported in Uitenhage on Tuesday, Tonjeni said police vehicles were damaged when officers trying to arrest a suspected drug dealer were pelted with stones by residents in Tiryville.
"On 20 March, in Barracuda Crescent, Tiryville, Kamesh, police officials were busy executing a search warrant at the residential address of a well-known drug peddler when members of the community initially started to verbally abuse the members. This action escalated and the community members then started throwing stones at the police members and their vehicles. No member of the SAPS was injured, however, several state vehicles were damaged," Tonjeni said.
He said the members successfully executed their mandate and 50kg of dagga, worth R50 0000 was seized from the premises.
A case of dealing in dagga, as well as malicious damage to property, has been registered for investigation.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Ntshinga has strongly condemned recent attacks on police officers after two incidents are under investigation in the past two days within the province.
"Anyone who attacks a police officer or damage state property will face the full might of the law. The SAPS will not be deterred by these types of attacks on our members including damage to state and private property. We will not tolerate any provocation of police officers especially when they are performing their duties," she said.
