5 days ago
Criminals who shot dead three cops well-trained, says Masemola
On Friday, WO Vuyisile Sintwa, 51, a detective attached to the Johannesburg trio task team and Sgt Simon Masenye, 45, died after being shot, allegedly by Zimbabwean national Thabang Moyo. At the time of the murder, they were transporting him from the Roodepoort magistrate's court.
According to police, in the past financial year, 27 officers died in the line of duty.
Since April, six more officers have been killed in criminal attacks and ambushes. One suspect has been arrested for Mtsweni's murder.
Masemola said this was not the time for the men in blue to cry but rather to deal with 'these criminals decisively so'.
Mtsweni's son, Nkosinenhlanhla Mtsweni, said he was a loving and funny father.
'The last time I saw and spoke to my father was when he asked me to polish his boots. It's hurting for all of us as a family. My father was a loving person who also made sure we were happy, and he was really funny to us as his children,' the heartbroken Nkosinenhlanhla said.
Police unions have condemned the recent deadly attacks on officers, saying if the same officers who risk their lives to protect citizens are not safe, then the fight against crime is severely compromised.
