By Thomas Thale
TWO alleged hijackers were due to appear in the Germiston Magistrate Court on Thursday in connection with the killing of a Metro Police officer, Sergeant Dave Van Zyl.
The two will face charges of attempted hijacking, murder and illegal possession of a firearm, says Wayne Minnaar, spokesman for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department.
The off-duty Van Zyl (41) was gunned down at his Albermarle home in Germiston on Wednesday while trying to apprehend two men fleeing from a police reservist.
The two had been spotted trying to hijack a car by the reservist, who gave chase. The suspects jumped over Van Zyl's garden wall and he was shot in the chest and stomach as he tried to confront them.
The suspects were arrested in the neighbourhood by members of the South African Police Service, who arrived on the scene soon after Van Zyl was shot.
According to Minnaar, Van Zyl is the fourth Metro Police officer to be killed this year.
Chris Ngcobo, chief of the Metro Police, hailed Van Zyl as a "dedicated officer, the department will miss him much".
Van Zyl is survived by his wife Sharon and two children - an eight-year old daughter and a four-year old son.
|
Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
|
