An off-duty police Captain was shot and wounded at about 4.30pm yesterday after confronting an armed gunman near the Oriental Plaza shopping centre in East London.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said the incident occurred when Captain Fanabonke Ngxovu‚ 52‚ who was in uniform and driving his private vehicle to the Plaza‚ spotted two suspicious-looking men near centre.
“On further observation‚ he noticed that one of them had a firearm in his hand. He then followed them as they moved away from the Oriental Plaza towards Magnolia Road‚ Braelyn Industries‚” she said.
“When he got out of his vehicle‚ one of the suspects turned around and fired several shots at him.”
Ngxovu‚ who is attached to the Public Order Policing unit‚ was shot in the lower body and rushed to hospital.
Soci said the two suspects fled the scene.
“At this stage‚ we cannot speculate the cause of the shooting‚” she added.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner General Celiwe Binta condemned the attack.
“Any person who attacks or kills a police official will face the full might of the law as an attack on or murder of a police official is a threat to our constitutional democracy and robs our communities of their protectors. This should not be taken lightly by anyone”.
Ngxovu is in a stable condition and is going into theatre this afternoon.
A case of attempted murder has been opened and no arrests have yet been made.
EL cop shot outside shopping centre
Police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci said the incident occurred when Captain Fanabonke Ngxovu‚ 52‚ who was in uniform and driving his private vehicle to the Plaza‚ spotted two suspicious-looking men near centre.
“On further observation‚ he noticed that one of them had a firearm in his hand. He then followed them as they moved away from the Oriental Plaza towards Magnolia Road‚ Braelyn Industries‚” she said.
“When he got out of his vehicle‚ one of the suspects turned around and fired several shots at him.”
Ngxovu‚ who is attached to the Public Order Policing unit‚ was shot in the lower body and rushed to hospital.
Soci said the two suspects fled the scene.
“At this stage‚ we cannot speculate the cause of the shooting‚” she added.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner General Celiwe Binta condemned the attack.
“Any person who attacks or kills a police official will face the full might of the law as an attack on or murder of a police official is a threat to our constitutional democracy and robs our communities of their protectors. This should not be taken lightly by anyone”.
Ngxovu is in a stable condition and is going into theatre this afternoon.
A case of attempted murder has been opened and no arrests have yet been made.
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