A QUICK thinking off-duty provincial traffic officer who foiled an armed robbery in Mthatha last week was honoured with a certificate of bravery yesterday.
The 50-year-old officer involved in a deadly gun-fight with four armed robbers at Mthatha’s popular Circus Triangle mall on Tuesday was presented with the certificate by Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana.
The officer, who is not being named to protect his identity, managed to shoot one of the robbers dead in front of the Clicks store, which the four men had just robbed.
A second suspect was arrested minutes after the robbery.
Colleagues ululated and shouted “James Bond” and “007” as the officer strode into the transport department’s offices in Mthatha yesterday to receive his award from Tikana.
The officer told the MEC he had not put much thought into his actions on the day nor did he have enough time to calculate the risks involved.
“I just thought I was doing what I was expected to do at the particular moment,” said the father of six.
“In that situation you just have to be decisive as losing focus could have fatal consequences for you.”
Recalling last week’s incident, the officer said he was at his car about to leave the mall when he saw some men acting suspiciously.
“Initially I thought they were trying to rob people coming out of the shopping centre.”
His fears were raised when they suddenly covered their faces with handkerchiefs and ran towards the Clicks store as it was closing.
“My plan was to make sure that I corner them inside the shop until the police arrived,” he said.
However, the men were quicker than anticipated and the officer said one fired shots at him.
He returned fire killing the man while another was quickly arrested.
Tikana yesterday challenged fellow officers to display the same bravery, saying the department had launched Operation Masibambisane last month in the OR Tambo region as a way of encouraging law enforcement agencies to work together.
Mthatha police cluster commander Major-General Johan Fourie, who found himself in a similar situation years ago, also praised the officer calling him “very brave”. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Brave traffic officer foils armed robbery, wins award for bravery
The 50-year-old officer involved in a deadly gun-fight with four armed robbers at Mthatha’s popular Circus Triangle mall on Tuesday was presented with the certificate by Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana.
The officer, who is not being named to protect his identity, managed to shoot one of the robbers dead in front of the Clicks store, which the four men had just robbed.
A second suspect was arrested minutes after the robbery.
Colleagues ululated and shouted “James Bond” and “007” as the officer strode into the transport department’s offices in Mthatha yesterday to receive his award from Tikana.
The officer told the MEC he had not put much thought into his actions on the day nor did he have enough time to calculate the risks involved.
“I just thought I was doing what I was expected to do at the particular moment,” said the father of six.
“In that situation you just have to be decisive as losing focus could have fatal consequences for you.”
Recalling last week’s incident, the officer said he was at his car about to leave the mall when he saw some men acting suspiciously.
“Initially I thought they were trying to rob people coming out of the shopping centre.”
His fears were raised when they suddenly covered their faces with handkerchiefs and ran towards the Clicks store as it was closing.
“My plan was to make sure that I corner them inside the shop until the police arrived,” he said.
However, the men were quicker than anticipated and the officer said one fired shots at him.
He returned fire killing the man while another was quickly arrested.
Tikana yesterday challenged fellow officers to display the same bravery, saying the department had launched Operation Masibambisane last month in the OR Tambo region as a way of encouraging law enforcement agencies to work together.
Mthatha police cluster commander Major-General Johan Fourie, who found himself in a similar situation years ago, also praised the officer calling him “very brave”. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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