Two police officers have been shot and killed while responding to a reported business robbery at Ziphunzana Location in Libode, near Mthatha, in the early hours of Friday, 18 September 2026.
The deceased officers, aged 51 and 30, were members of the Mthatha National Intervention Unit and Mthatha Public Order Policing Unit. Their identities will be released once their next of kin have been notified.
According to police, armed suspects were attacking a spaza shop and demanding money from the shop operator when the two officers responded to a call for assistance.
The officers were later found with gunshot wounds. Their service pistols were missing.
A cordless grinder, allegedly used by the suspects to cut through the shop’s burglar door, was recovered at the scene.
The incident is being investigated as two counts of murder, two counts of attack on police, two counts of robbery of police firearms and one count of attempted business robbery.
A multidisciplinary team has been deployed to the area, while a 72-hour activation plan has been launched to track down and arrest those responsible. Police said preliminary intelligence is already being followed up.
“The brutal murder of our members is an attack on the State, and we will not rest until those responsible are arrested and prosecuted,” said Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Vuyisile Ncata.
“We send our deepest condolences to their families and colleagues, and we will support them through this difficult time,” Ncata said.
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