Two more cops die brutally at the hands of criminals

Two more cops die brutally at the hands of criminals
July 26 2011
BOTHO MOLOSANKWE

THESE are the two officers who died at the hands of hijackers on Sunday evening.

Warrant Officer Lefu Petrus Mokoena, 45, and his colleague Bhekuyise Mboneni Mahlalela, 47, died on the R103 (Old Heidelberg Road) after stopping to investigate a Nissan bakkie at about 8pm.

Inside the bakkie were armed hijackers and their victim. The gunmen got out of the vehicle and opened fire on the officers.

Both officers were shot in the upper body, and while they lay on the ground dying, the gunmen stole their service pistols. One officer died at the scene and another en route to hospital. Both were based in Germiston and working for the East Rand Flying Squad. They each had 25 years’ experience in the force.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the men had hijacked the bakkie in Zonk’Izizwe, Germiston, and run out of petrol

. While the gunmen opened fire on the police, the hijack victim managed to run away, said Dlamini.

He said the gunmen then abandoned the bakkie at the scene and hijacked a passing Toyota Corolla.

They robbed churchgoers inside the Corolla of cellphones before driving away and abandoning the car a few kilometres from the scene.

Police found blood inside the Corolla, leading them to believe one of the gunmen was injured.

Dlamini said a 9mm pistol had been found inside the bakkie.

“The hijack victim returned later to the scene. No one has been arrested,” he said.

Police are appealing to communities to help with information that could lead to the killers’ arrest.