Two police officers burned to death in the back of their police vehicle

Police made a gruesome discovery on Tuesday afternoon.

DNA TESTING WILL NEED TO BE DONE FOR POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION

Two bodies, believed to be police officers, were found in the back of a burnt police vehicle in the bushes in Moseta, North West.

Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said the bodies are believed to be those of two police officers stationed at Mareetsane in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

“On the evening of 26 July 2021, the two members attending to complaints in the precinct lost contact with their commander at the Community Service Centre (CSC).”

She said the shift management started searching for officers after hours of no contact.

On Tuesday afternoon,27 July 2021, the search led to the gruesome discovery of the two bodies in the back of a burnt state motor vehicle in the bushes in Moseta.

“The burned bodies will be subjected to DNA testing for positive identification.”

Muridili said the motive for the killings forms part of the investigation.

The North West Provincial Office has instituted the 72-Hour Activation Plan.

“The Province is affording the colleagues and families of the deceased police officers the necessary Employee Health and Wellness counseling.”

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Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has called on the police to work around the clock to urgently arrest those responsible for killing a police officer attached to the Tactical Response Team (TRT) in eMalahleni.

The officer was attacked and shot at his home on Saturday at about 20:30.

Muridili said a case of murder was being investigated after unknown assailants attacked Sergeant Joseph Christopher Kutu at his home.

“He was shot and [wounded and] died on arrival in hospital,” Muridili said.

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