Media Statement from National Media Centre

Corporate Communication

South African Police Service

 

9 JANUARY 2013

 

BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE: The Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Makhotso Maggie Sotyu, has this morning, paid a visit to two officers, Constable Lahliwe Moshebi and Constable Molefi Lepheane, who got injured during an armed robbery at Freedom Square Township's supermarket in Kopanong yesterday.

 

The Deputy Minister then proceeded to visit the family of the late Sergeant Ephraim Mokasi, who was shot dead during the same armed robbery.

 

Conveying her message of condolences to the Mokasi Family on behalf of the Ministry of Police, the Deputy Minister of Police said, killings of police officers will never be tolerated by this Government, and measures are already in place to make sure that those hardened criminals who are convicted for killing police officers, will receive the harshest and maximum sentence possible, as killing of police officers is killing the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

 

In the meantime, of the total four suspects involved in this heinous crime, one was shot dead by the police during the armed robbery, two have already been arrested, and the fourth suspect is still on the run. Police are in hot pursuit for this criminal to face the full might of the law, said the Deputy Minister of Police.

 

-End-

 

Media Enquiries:

 

Ms Nomsa Hani

Spokesperson for the Deputy Minister of Police at 0827722053 or

Col Mokhele

Free State SAPS Communications

0824667396

 

Ms. Nomsa Hani

Head of Office & Acting Spokesperson: Deputy Minister of Police

Ministry of Police

Private Bag X463

PRETORIA

0001

 

Tel: +27 12 3934469 / 21 4677023

Fax: +27 12 3934614 / 21 4614174

Cell: +27 (0) 82 772 2053

E-mail: HaniNomsa@saps.gov.za

www.saps.gov.za