A standoff between police in Robertson in the Western Cape and a gunman on a farm ended in the death of the gunman, damaged police vehicles, and a injured policeman.
The standoff on a farm in De Hoop started on Sunday evening, after police received a complaint of a man who shot at a neighbour’s vehicle escalated into a gun battle that continued into Monday evening, August 17.
The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa said Robertson police who responded to the first complaint on Sunday came under fire from the gunman and called for backup.
“The situation progressed resulting in the tactical response team (TRT) deployed to diffuse the standoff. The TRT was also shot at by the same gunman resulting in one police official suffering injury to his shoulder. He was hospitalised and is receiving medical attention,” Potelwa said.
The operational response was escalated with the Special Task Force (STF) also deployed on Monday afternoon.
“A heavy gun battle ensued as the gunman shot at STF members damaging a police armoured vehicle (Nyala). Two women who were in a neighbouring house were subsequently rescued with STF members tactfully gaining entry to the house where the 40-year-old gunman was. He was shot in the shootout and died on the scene,” Potelwa said.
An inquest docket has been opened for investigation. Officials from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) were also summoned to the scene.
“An assault rifle, a shot gun, two pistols, magazines, different types of ammunition, flags and notebooks with inscriptions were seized. Police still continue to maintain a strong presence on the farm and further investigations continue,” Potelwa said.
The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, commended the swift and courageous intervention by SAPS members during the prolonged armed standoff.
“Our members demonstrated courage, discipline and tactical restraint in confronting an armed individual who posed a direct and serious threat to police officers and innocent members of the community. I commend the station members who responded first, the TRT members who reinforced them, and particularly the Special Task Force for the professional manner in which they brought this dangerous situation to an end and protected civilian lives,” Dimpane said.
She stressed that the safety of police officers remains a priority for the SAPS, particularly when members are confronted by heavily armed and hostile individuals.
“Police officers must never be expected to face heavily armed criminals without the appropriate tactical support. Our operational response must always be proportionate to the threat, coordinated and decisive. At the same time, we must ensure that every tactical intervention places the protection of innocent lives at the centre of our policing response,” Dimpane said.
She also wished the injured police officer a speedy recovery and reaffirmed the SAPS commitment to protecting both its members and the communities they serve.
“We will continue to confront threats to public safety with determination. Criminals who turn firearms against police officers and innocent people must know that the SAPS will respond with the full capability of the Service. We will protect our members, our communities and we will not retreat in the face of violence,” Dimpane said.
