In a life-threatening situation in Mpehle locality, Maladini A/A – Sulenkama (Qumbu), a police official attached to OR Tambo Stock Theft Prevention Task Team survived after being welcomed by a hail of bullets whilst recovering suspected stolen cattle on Thursday, 04 September 2025 at about 21:00.
The task team which operates day and night in stock theft hotspots, mostly being Bityi, Tsolo, Qumbu and Libode, preventing the scourge of stock theft had one of their members shot at by three armed men aged between 25 and 35 in a rondavel (house) whilst he and his team were collecting four stolen cattle positively identified by the rightful owners to a loading truck. A cow ran to a nearby homestead premises and as the official asked for the missing cow from a man in the yard, the man dashed into a rondavel house and a hail of bullets were fired at the police official from the rondavel and he retaliated, fatally wounding three male suspects inside.
Three unlicensed 9mm pistols (erased serial numbers) were recovered inside the rondavel. Also recovered in the homestead were nine goats suspected to be stolen locked in a shack. Investigation into the incident continues and the police official escaped the crossfire uninjured.
All stakeholders including Independent Police Investigative Unit (IPID) were all summoned into the crime scene and Inquest dockets were opened, detailing enquiries/ charges laid against the deceased, ranging from attempted murder, attack on police, possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition to possession of suspected stolen stock. The IPID will continue with its mandate to investigate the case further.
