NELSPRUIT - An off-duty Traffic Officer, who has since been identified by his family as Mr Silvester Samkelo Nkosi (34) was fatally shot and robbed of his white VW Golf 7 as well as his service pistol. The horrific incident is said to have occurred in the evening of Monday, 23 January 2023 at the Water reservoir (2010 Soccer Ball) in Steiltes, Nelspruit.
According to the report, on that fateful night around 19:30, police in Nelspruit received a complaint about a shooting incident at the said premises and upon arrival, they (police) found the Provincial Traffic Officer in a pool of blood. The medical personnel that attended the scene unfortunately certified him dead and a case of murder with additional charges of robbery and carjacking is being investigated by the police. No one has been arrested so far, but preliminary investigation indicates that the officer was with a female friend when two armed suspects preyed on them. The female friend was reportedly unharmed during the incident and she went to call for help at the nearest filling station whilst the suspects fled with the victim’s car and service firearm.
Police calls on anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects or the vehicle to contact Detective Branch Commander in Nelspruit SAPS, Detective Colonel Donald Mkhaliphi on 079 230 3126 or call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
A manhunt for the suspects has since been launched and a team of experts in the field of investigation has been assembled under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela who strongly condemned the incident and vowed that the perpetrators will not find peace until they are all locked up. "It is well-known that in this province we do not blink an eye whenever crime is committed. There will be no difference on this case and them better hand themselves over to the authorities before we get to them “said the General.
Source: South African Police Service