Nelson Mandela Bay Hawks are on the hunt for three men who brutally gunned down a police sergeant and his paramedic friend.
Sergeant Mzwabantu Xhathasi and his friend Ishmael Phumeza, both 39, were gunned down while chatting at the latter’s home in Tshangana Street, New Brighton, around 7.30pm on Wednesday.
Xhathasi, who was stationed at Mount Road police station, died on the scene while Phumeza, a Netcare 911 paramedic died from his injuries on the way to hospital. Several 9mm cartridges were found on the scene.
Yesterday, MEC for safety and liaison Weziwe Tikana and provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta expressed shock at the “senseless and brutal” killings of the “protectors and lifesavers”.
Tikana urged witnesses to come forward with information about the perpetrators. “We know that somebody, somewhere has seen, heard or knows something … they need to come forward,” she said.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said Xhathasi was off duty when the attack occurred. “They were standing at the gate of the premises when three unknown assailants suddenly started firing shots at them,” said Mills.
Mills said it was not clear if the incident was a drive-by shooting. No one had been arrested late yesterday. “It is not clear if the assailants were on foot or were driving a vehicle,” said Mills.
- In Mount Ayliff, a police task team recovered 14 illegal firearms, which included a BXP sub-machine gun, an AK 47, 9mm firearms and a .38 special revolver in an operation triggered by a string of recent armed robberies in the area.
Fourteen suspects appeared in the Mount Ayliff Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were remanded in custody and will be back in the dock today.
Police spokesman Captain Mlungisi Matidane said the suspects were bust during several operations in the “hotspots” of Mzamba, kwaDengane, Mpisi and Mbizana.
“About 90 tablets of mandrax and 270 straws of whoonga were also recovered and seized from the suspects,” said Matidane.
- In another unrelated incident, a killer was handed a 30-year jail term in Aliwal North.
Mandla Eric Liwani, 41, was sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison after he stabbed a 17-year-old girl to death about five years ago. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
Manhunt after officer and paramedic shot dead
Sergeant Mzwabantu Xhathasi and his friend Ishmael Phumeza, both 39, were gunned down while chatting at the latter’s home in Tshangana Street, New Brighton, around 7.30pm on Wednesday.
Xhathasi, who was stationed at Mount Road police station, died on the scene while Phumeza, a Netcare 911 paramedic died from his injuries on the way to hospital. Several 9mm cartridges were found on the scene.
Yesterday, MEC for safety and liaison Weziwe Tikana and provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta expressed shock at the “senseless and brutal” killings of the “protectors and lifesavers”.
Tikana urged witnesses to come forward with information about the perpetrators. “We know that somebody, somewhere has seen, heard or knows something … they need to come forward,” she said.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said Xhathasi was off duty when the attack occurred. “They were standing at the gate of the premises when three unknown assailants suddenly started firing shots at them,” said Mills.
Mills said it was not clear if the incident was a drive-by shooting. No one had been arrested late yesterday. “It is not clear if the assailants were on foot or were driving a vehicle,” said Mills.
Fourteen suspects appeared in the Mount Ayliff Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were remanded in custody and will be back in the dock today.
Police spokesman Captain Mlungisi Matidane said the suspects were bust during several operations in the “hotspots” of Mzamba, kwaDengane, Mpisi and Mbizana.
“About 90 tablets of mandrax and 270 straws of whoonga were also recovered and seized from the suspects,” said Matidane.
Mandla Eric Liwani, 41, was sentenced to an effective 30 years in prison after he stabbed a 17-year-old girl to death about five years ago. — loyisom@dispatch.co.za
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