The alarming levels of crime in South Africa have reached a point where public safety is now seriously threatened. This was evident on Saturday, 23 September, when two police officers were robbed of their cellphones and firearms during their lunch break.
The incident took place in Daveyton, a township located in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The officers, who were on routine patrol duty, decided to stop at a local take-out establishment called MaRose’s Kitchen to pick up their lunch orders. Little did they know that this innocent stop would turn into a terrifying ordeal.
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As the officers parked their marked police vehicle near the restaurant, two unidentified men suddenly confronted them, brandishing firearms. In a matter of seconds, the officers were ordered to lie down on the ground, while the assailants proceeded to rob them of their belongings.
The thieves took away the officers’ cellphones, leaving them without any means of communication. They also seized the policemen’s state-issued pistols, along with the magazines containing live rounds of ammunition. To make matters worse, the criminals then fired rounds at the police vehicle’s tires, rendering it inoperable.
Without a doubt, this incident highlights the brazenness and audacity of criminals in South Africa. It is concerning to see how easily police officers, who are meant to protect and serve the community, can become victims of crime themselves.
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Law enforcement authorities later discovered spent cartridge cases and a live round at the scene, indicating the level of violence involved in the incident. The assailants managed to escape in a white Audi A5, and their identities remain unknown at this time.
Thankfully, the two officers emerged physically unharmed from the ordeal.