ANOTHER police reservist has been shot dead. Busisiwe Mehlwana, 33, who was attached to Kliptown police station, was killed while responding to an ATM bombing at a Total garage in Pimville, Soweto, on Tuesday night

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said yesterday that a gang of 10 men armed with high-calibre firearms held up workers at the filling station before blowing up the ATM inside.

"A patrolling police van pulled up at the crime scene and one of the robbers standing guard at the door opened fire on the police, hitting Mehlwana in her upper body," Dlamini said.

Mehlwana died in the police vehicle.

Dlamini said the robbers sped off in a white Isuzu bakkie with an undisclosed amount of money.

Mehlwana started working for the police about three months ago.

National police commissioner General Bheki Cele has condemned hers murder.

"These are hardcore criminals who do not hesitate to shoot even women. Clearly as I said that we don't deal with criminals that carry broomsticks or feather dusters.

"We deal with people who are heartless ... and as such police must be alert and protect themselves," Cele said.

He said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa would launch a campaign tomorrow about police killings.

On Monday an armed gang of 10 men stormed a petrol station in Alberton and threatened customers and staff.

They robbed the shop before bombing an ATM.

Dlamini said normally ATM bombers travelled in groups but police could not link the two incidents yet.

"We are still investing and we can only be able to say there is a link once the investigation is complete."

No arrests have been made in connection with the two incidents.

l In March Constable Mogomotsi Josias Masango was killed in a hail of bullets while responding to an ATM bombing at Mahem, Pretoria.

l In May Constable Fihliwe Bengeza was shot dead after she and three of her colleagues responded to an ATM bombing at Zonkizizwe in Ekurhuleni.