Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
The MEC for Public Safety and Security, Gauteng, Ms. Jessie Duarte strongly condemns the increasing killings of police officials in the province and calls on the police and the community to take tough measures against the perpetrators.
Two police officials were brutally murdered and two seriously injured, this week alone. Inspector January was shot in Etwatwa (Daveyton) yesterday and died in hospital today whilst Superintendent Moloi who was shot and injured in Daveyton (Etwatwa) on Sunday and is reported to be in a serious but stable condition. Meanwhile, Inspector Marthinus van der Merwe (31) was shot and killed in Cleveland whilst Senior Superintendent Nick Jones got injured in the same incident on Monday.
"I call on the police and the community to close ranks to ensure that those responsible for these killings are dealt with accordingly. We can not afford to lose the police especially at this stage when we are mobilising all the necessary resources to bring down the unacceptable high level of crime." the MEC said.
"These senseless killings, which, notably are carried out with firearms, make it even more imperative for the communities, the police, civil society at large and the government to join hands in fighting gun - proliferation particularly that of illegal firearms." MEC Duarte further said.
The MEC and the entire Ministry for Public Safety and Security, Gauteng, would like to express their heartfelt condolences to all the bereaved families.
Issued by: Ministry for Public Safety and Security, Gauteng 10 April 1997 Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi Tel: (011) 333 4433 Fax: (011) 355 1850 Cell: 082 571 3591