Parly Portfolio Committee on police welcomes Ngcobo arrests

The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed the breakthrough by a police service task team on Friday night that resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals suspected to have been involved the Ngcobo Police station attack in the Eastern Cape.

The Hawks confirmed that seven suspects were killed at a church in Ngcobo last night, during a gun battle between the suspects and the police.

A police multi-disciplinary team is probing the shooting and killing of five police officers and a retired soldier at the police station in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Mancoba Seven Angel’s Ministries church at Nyanga village is a crime scene following the arrest of 10 suspects. Seven have been killed. They are linked to the brutal murder of #Ngcobo Police. #sabcnews #NgcoboKilling#NgcoboPoliceStation #sabcnews @SAfmRadio @SABCiindaba pic.twitter.com/nNh11aU2zA

— Zimkhita Manqinana (@ZManqinana) February 24, 2018

Police Committee Chair, Francois Beukman has commended police for their work.

“We welcome the breakthrough by the SAPS task team last night with the arrest of ten suspects and the confiscation of a large number of weapons. The portfolio committee also notes that seven suspects were killed. The committee wishes the task team member that was wounded in the incident a speedy recovery. The task team comprised of different SAPS units should be commended for the breakthrough. We trust that the other suspects will be apprehended soon,” says Beukman.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have commended police officers for meeting police minister, Fikile Mbalula’s 72-hour deadline to arrest the suspects.

SALUTE TO OUR OFFICERS

More than 10 other suspects were arrested while others managed to escape.

Sadly, one police officer was wounded and he is recuperating in hospital#Ngcoboshooting

— Min of Police: Mr Fearfokkol (@MbalulaFikile) February 24, 2018

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi has encouraged anyone with information related to the incident to contact the police.

“We always try and encourage them to call our 08600 10111 number. They would remain anonymous and confidential. We would really be assisted in tracing the other suspects. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that there is nothing that we are doing. The police will be going out to track the others. So hopefully we would have a breakthrough as well,” adds Mulaudzi.