A 30-year-old wanted suspect, from Lesotho, was fatally wounded during a shoot-out with members of the SA Police Service (SAPS).
The incident happened on Sunday evening, according to North West provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.
“Police got a tip-off about a wanted suspect and traced him to a tavern in Mogwase. Upon arrival of the police, the suspect allegedly shot at the members (police officers) who returned fire and fatally wounded the suspect,” said Mokgwabone.
“The deceased, who is a Lesotho foreign national, was found in possession of a firearm that was reported stolen in Linden, Gauteng province.”
Police said the man was wanted for charges including attempted murder, robbery and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm allegedly committed between January 2023 and July 2024 in Zone 8, Mogwase.
“The deceased also had two pending cases of murder committed in July 2021 in Robega village and Phokeng outside Rustenburg,” said Mokgwabone.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the murder of the wanted suspect.
Meanwhile, provincial police commissioner in North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena remarked that no amount of attacks will deter the police from doing their work.
“Those who open fire on the police must expect the same type of response,” said Kwena.
In August, IOL reported that two alleged robbers were shot dead, and a third one was wounded on his leg when private security officers intervened during a robbery incident in North West province.
Colonel Adéle Myburgh, provincial police spokesperson in North West, said the shot men were involved in different acts of robbery in Phokeng.
In one robbery incident, Myburgh said a tavern owner and four customers were inside a tavern, when they were overpowered by three armed men, who initially pretended to be customers.
“The 48-year-old (tavern) owner was shot on his hand by one of the suspects and also stabbed on the chest. The suspects allegedly grabbed the cash register, liquor, cellular phones, and a sound system before fleeing the scene,” she said.
The four customers were not injured during this incident. The owner of the tavern was taken to a local clinic where he was treated and discharged the same night.
IOL