BY KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

NORTH West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms after a police officer was killed alongside his wife and two children in Mmakau village near Brits on Tuesday.

A constable, 41 who was stationed at Hebron Police Station, was with his wife, 40; children aged 22 and 3 respectively when number of unknown suspects entered the house.

North West police spokesperson, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone said: “The suspects allegedly shot four family members dead and fled the scene with a Chrysler Voyager vehicle afterwards. The vehicle was later found abandoned in the bushes at Black Rock Section in Mmakau. The motive of the killings is unknown at this stage and no one has been arrested.”

Motswenyane said: “It is sad that merciless criminals instantly killed members of a family including a member of the South African Police Service in the province. The police will leave no stone unturned to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.

“We also want to express our heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased. Police in Mmakau are investigating four counts of murder and a house robbery following the atrocity.”

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TWO Security guards were injured during an armed robbery at Batlhaping Baga Phuduhucwana Tribal Authority Hall in Taung on Tuesday. North West police said six armed suspects allegedly encircled the community hall and waited for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) employees who were supposed to hand over social grants to elderly people in the area.

Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Col, Amanda Funani said: “The suspects allegedly robbed SASSA employees’ undisclosed amount of money that was supposed to be handed over as social grants to beneficiaries. They fled the scene with a vehicle depicted with Gauteng Province (GP) registration number. No one has been arrested yet.

“The wounded security guards were ferried to Taung District Hospital with bullet wounds. They were later transferred to Klerksdorp Hospital while in critical condition. The police are investigating a case of armed robbery and attempted murder. We urge anyone with any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward,” Funani said.

She added that the incident took place at around 10am.

South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) secretary in Dr Ruth Mompati region, Mika Moeti said: “We are concern about the high rate of crime taking place in Taung. The criminals have turned the vicinity into their shell where they practice their criminal activities. We want to see more police visibility because now criminals and robbers infiltrate rural areas to carry out crime.

“We also want to urge our community members to be wary of criminals especially that we are heading into festive season. We will intensify our patrollers to ensure that Taung is the safest place during festive season. Crime affects our economy and the stability of our country.

SASSA provincial spokesperson, Smanga Selemeni said: “Those who were adversely affected were paid. You will understand that the money is insured and our contractor will replace it as pre-requisite. We have also beefed up our security enforcement and all those who did not receive their money were paid on Wednesday.”- Newsnote