The Hawks have been activated in the Western Cape to investigate the murder of a police officer in Mfuleni on Sunday morning.
According to police, the 32-year-old off-duty police constable was parked along Gcuwa Street in his private vehicle, waiting to pick up his colleague before heading to work. He was stationed at the Cape Town International Airport.
Spokesperson, Colonel Andrè Traut, says Constable Ayanda Moyikwa was approached by two unknown gunmen and shot. Moyikwa’s belongings were stolen.
#sapsHQ [HAPPENING NOW] The Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili is together with the Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile visiting the home of 32-year-old Constable Ayanda Moyikwa.
Constable… pic.twitter.com/ngxlqbrLXm
— SA Police Service
(@SAPoliceService) January 12, 2025
Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, condemned the murder and noted that a team has been set up and deployed to Mfuleni to track down the suspects.
Patekile, alongside the Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, visited the scene of the crime on Sunday.
Mosikili noted that this is the fifth murder of a police officer recorded in the country since the start of the year. She urged communities to be proactive in addressing such crimes.
“All of them of young constables, that have just been recruited to come and augment our police teams… It is an appeal and request to our communities to save the lives of the police officials, who are going to be saving the lives of others in response to the call [of duty].”
Provincial Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, reiterated these calls, urging the public to cooperate in the search for the suspects.
“This is a life cut short too soon. I ask all members of the public to assist the police so that the manhunt for his killers can be successful. This aggression against the police cannot stand.”
Patekile says Moyikwa would have celebrated his 33rd birthday on 17 January.
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