The South African Police Service has confirmed investigating an incident of murder following the death of one of its members who was also a football referee.
On Wednesday evening, Police constable Akhona Ndzingo was shot and killed while on duty in Khayelitsha, Western Cape, during a crime prevention operation, the police confirmed.
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Ndzingo, 30, who had been stationed at Khayelitsha police station, had been conducting a stop and search operation with colleagues in Q-Section, Site B in Khayelitsha, when he was shot and killed by an armed suspect who later fled the scene.
A case of murder and attempted murder has been opened, while the investigation has been started, as confirmed by Western Cape SAPS Head in Corporate Communications Brigadier Novela Potelwa, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
"I must say that his passing is a loss for the South African Police Service. It's a big loss in the manner in which he died. He was a promising young person within the SAPS as he was also not only involved in what he was meant to do. He showed so much potential," said Potelwa.
"I can tell you right now that his commanders that he was working with in Khayelitsha are devastated. They are devasted because of the manner he died, and for knowing the kind of person that he was. He set a very good example to an extent that he would be entrusted with the responsibilities that others wouldn't do. That's just how he was. He was such a dedicated and devoted individual within the SAPS," she said.
"There are several leads that are being pursued but we wouldn't want to speak about what we're pursuing at the moment. We are doing everything we can to get to the perpetrator," she added.
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"What the management of the SAPS did following his death was to offer psychosocial support to the Ndzingo family, friends, the soccer fraternity, colleagues and the Khayelitsha SAPS management. Sincere condolences. We realise that it will take time for them to heal from this, but we think that they will find comfort in knowing that in the time that he was with them he set very high standards even for those he has left behind. I heard from his station commander that he was a PSL referee. He also played a role in sports within the SAPS. He was also entrusted with the duties of being a field trainer among others in the SAPS," concluded Potelwa.
Soccer Laduma sends heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ndzingo during this difficult time of grief.
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