Cape Town - Cops are hunting for the murderers of a colleague who was shot dead and robbed of his service pistol.
Constable Nkosiphendule Makeleni, who was off duty at the time, was sitting in his car while parked near a primary school in Kuyasa, Khayelitsha.
The 37-year-old father of two died on the scene from a bullet wound to his chest.
It is unclear what the officer was doing near the school.
The officer, who was part of the Simon’s Town Sea Border Unit, had left work just one hour before and was still dressed in his uniform, says police spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut.
Makeleni is the latest casualty in the police force - at least 56 officers have been killed since the beginning of the year.
On Wednesday, friends and relatives of the slain constable gathered at his home to comfort his grief-stricken wife and children.
Gcobisa Badli, 32, says she last saw her husband on Wednesday morning, just before he left for work.
With tears streaming down her face, Gcobisa says: “I spoke to him throughout the day, but it was late in the evening when I phoned him and his phone was not answered.
“But I didn’t think anything strange of it.
“I was sitting at home with my family when one of his colleagues came to tell me that he has been shot and killed in Khayelitsha.
“I still cannot believe that this has happened.
“My husband loved his family and was loved by people around the area.”
Makeleni was standing near Ludwe Ngamlana Primary School when he was attacked, but his wife says she has no idea why he was there at 8pm on a Tuesday night.
“I don’t know what happened, all I know is that he was shot and his service pistol stolen, this is hurting me,” she cried.
By late on Wednesday night no-one could shed light on why the officer was parked near the school.
The school’s principal confirmed that no meetings were scheduled and that the school was closed at the time.
Traut says while they are investigating all possibilities, it’s believed the officer was attacked to get his gun.
Traut says: “We have reasons to believe that the motive could have been robbery as the member’s official service pistol was stolen.”
He added that police are investigating a case of murder.
*Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Daily Voice
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