Makhado – A 37-year-old Ethiopian National is nursing a bullet wound in hospital after he was shot and injured by the police for attacking them when they were arresting his younger brother for a rape case at Elim Mpheni Block B&C location today.
According to the Spokesperson for the police in the Limpopo Province, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, three police constables including a female officer attached to the Makhado FCS, were tracing a rape suspect on the run at Elim Mpheni Block C.
“A chase broke out in the corridors of the Spaza shops and his colleagues started attacking the police.
Men and women in blue continued with their duties until they apprehended the rape suspect. His elder brother mobilized his fellow foreigners while the three police were still in the corridors of the corrugated iron Spaza shops.
They started throwing stones at the police and in the process one of the foreigners grabbed a female police officer on the neck and choked her while holding a brick in his hand, threatening to kill her,” She said.
“One police constable swiftly reacted by firing a shot and injuring the foreigner who grabbed the police on the neck. Other Ethiopian nationals ran to different directions, and the female officer was freed.
The Emergency Medical Services were summoned and the injured suspect was rushed to a local hospital.
A 34-year-old rape suspect was arrested and is expected to appear before the Waterval Magistrate’s Court outside the Louis Trichardt town on Monday for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman at Elim – Mpheni Block B&C,” She Brig Mashaba.
The injured suspect is under police guard in hospital and will face an additional case of assault on the police, malicious damage to property and interference with police duties when he recovers.
The Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe condemned the incident. Hadebe welcomed the arrest of the two suspects.
“Thorough investigations are underway to find the suspect behind the attack on the police and IPID was also notified for further investigation of an attempted murder case following the shooting incident,” said Lieutenant General Hadebe.
The investigations are ongoing.
