EASTERN CAPE – A 39-year-old alleged police attempted murder suspect and motor vehicle hijacker will appear in the East London Magistrate’s court on Monday, 10 January 2022.

He was  arrested by the East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) team of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG) team and King William’s Town Flying squad at his place of residence at Ndevana location in King William’s Town on the 7 January 2022.

It is alleged that on the 23 November 2021 at about 17:00 Warrant Officer Swanepoel of East London K9 Dog Unit was on patrol duties in Quigney area, East London when he noticed a suspicious looking motor vehicle. The police officer approached the vehicle attempting to stop the driver. He was allegedly met with a hail of bullets and sustained a gunshot wound on his upper body. The two suspects fled the scene on foot abandoning their vehicle.

The scene was attended by East London Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) members, East London Detectives, Provincial Organised Crime team and Crime Prevention members from the local police station. The matter was handed over to East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks for probing which culminated in his arrest.

The Hawks investigation has also linked him to armed robbery as well as numerous counts of motor vehicle hijackings in Keiskammahoek and Ugie respectively. He is expected to appear in Keiskammahoek and Ugie Magistrate’s courts soon.

The joint effort of the teams is commended by the Provincial Head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya.

Source: South African Police Service