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Two more Cape cops killed

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Two more policemen have been killed in Cape Town in what appeared to be random attacks.

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Cape Town - Two more policemen have been killed in Cape Town in what appeared to be random attacks.

One policeman was shot dead while recording details at the scene of a car crash and the other while preparing to go to work.

A 36-year-old constable was killed while on duty in Spine Road, Mitchells Plain, around 8pm on Sunday, said police liaison officer captain FC van Wyk.

“He was attacked at an accident scene by a suspect who collided with a police vehicle. The suspect fled the scene on foot.”

An hour later, a 40-year-old sergeant was shot in his Khayelitsha home while getting ready to go to work.

He died on his way to hospital.

Hours after the two incidents, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said there was a correlation between the criticism from the Western Cape’s political leadership of police and police coming under attack. Mthethwa was speaking at a press conference in Mitchells Plain.

“If you keep criticising and blaming the police, you make them look useless - you open them up for possible attacks,” he said, implicating Premier Helen Zille and Community Safety MEC Dan Plato.

The attacks were condemned on Monday by Mthethwa Zille and Plato.

“The killing of police officers is very tragic and must be condemned by everyone,” Zille said.

“We rely on the police to help keep communities safe and to maintain public order and the rule of law.

“We urge members of the public to assist the police with investigations into the killing of these and other police officers.Mthethwa said criticism of police was unproductive, and he called on the DA leadership in the Western Cape and the media to support the police in a fighting the scourge of the drug trade - “a complex international phenomenon”.

At publication time no arrests had been made.

Three police officers have been killed in Cape Town in the last week.

Mthethwa said that recent history showed police were more likely to be attacked in the Western Cape than in any other province.

“Attacks on the police must result in swift and strong convictions to send the message that they will not be tolerated,” Zille said.

Greg Wagner, spokesman for Plato said the MEC was making plans to visit the policemen’s families, as he had after the most recent police deaths.

Plato said: “I am appalled to learn that another two officers have been killed. These brave men and women put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of this province and it is truly regrettable that they themselves have become victims to ruthless criminals.

The Western Cape government sends our condolences to the family and friends of the officers and to the broader police community.”

* Addressing allegations that Plato was in cahoots with drug dealers on the Cape Flats, Mthethwa said the onus was on Plato to “clear himself” of the allegations.

The ANC in the province has compiled a dossier for investigation by police. It has not been made public, but the ANC says it contains evidence of corrupt links between Plato and gang leadership.

A case has been opened at Cape Town police station, Mthethwa confirmed.

Plato earlier called the allegations “unfounded” and welcomed an investigation. He accused the ANC of attempting to undermine him ahead of next year’s elections.

Cape Argus

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