Two Jozini cops wounded in shootout with armed robbers

Two police officers were wounded in a shootout with armed robbers in Jozini in Kwazulu-Natal in the early hours of Sunday‚ police said.

Police spokesman Brigadier Jay Naicker said the officers were responding to a report of an armed robbery in progress at the Jozini municipal offices when they were attacked.

“Police confronted the six suspects at Mlotheni area after they fled the scene in their getaway vehicle. The suspects immediately opened fire on police officers. Two police officers were injured following heavy gunfire whilst the criminals fled the scene in their getaway vehicle.

 “The injured officers were taken to hospital for medical attention. A case of attempted murder was opened at Jozini police station for investigation and a manhunt is underway for the suspects‚” Brig Naicker said.

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni condemned the attack on the police officers.

 “Every day we are confronted by ruthless criminals while executing our constitutional mandate to fight crime. We will not be discouraged by their actions and we will continue to fight criminals that operate in our communities to ensure that our citizens are and feel safe.

 “We appeal to the community in Jozini to please come forward and expose these ruthless criminals so that they can be arrested and put behind bars where they belong‚” she said.