A crazed East London man’s stabbing spree was stopped by a hail of bullets on Friday – but not before he ambushed a police officer and stabbed him to death.
He died in hospital later that day, before he could be charged with the murder of Sergeant Siphiwo Mtsewu, 37.
His death was confirmed by Cambridge police spokesperson Captain Mluleki Mbi on Monday. Mbi identified the knifeman as Lwandile Mbedu, 26, from Cambridge township.
“He died on the day of the incident. The case has been handed to the Independent Police Investigating Directorate for investigation,” said Mbi.
Mbi said Mtsewu would be given an official police burial in Cacadu (Lady Frere) on Saturday. Senior government officials were expected to attend.
The funeral will be preceded by a memorial ceremony to be held at Cambridge police station on Wednesday, said Mbi.
The Mtsewu family was too distraught to speak to the Dispatch. Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga visited the Mtsewu family at their Winchester home in Amalinda on Monday to pay respects in an intimate pre-funeral ceremony.
The condition of two more people stabbed during the spree was unknown at the time of writing.
Mbedu was shot more than 10 times before he fell. He was taken to Frere Hospital.
This is after he allegedly went on a rampage and beheaded a dog before wounding two members of the public during the stabbing spree.
Sergeant Mtsewu and Cambridge police top brass were in a community engagement meeting attended by 300 people when Mbedu caused a disturbance outside the venue.
Mtsewu, who was a crime prevention unit member, left the meeting – where people were decrying the high crime rate – with a few other officers to attend to Mbedu.
Mbedu reportedly ran and hid in a narrow ally and pounced on an unsuspecting Mtsewu, who was in hot pursuit.
He stumbled for several metres before he fell in the street and was pronounced dead at the scene...