🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
Two South African police officers attacked in Eastern Cape, one killed
via The Citizen1 min read
Two South African Police Service Saps officers were attacked in the New Brighton area in Ngangelizwe, Eastern Cape, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at approximately 4:30 PM, after returning from active duty. Saps spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana reported that a male officer died at the scene, while a female officer is in critical condition in the hospital. The names of the officers will be released after next-of-kin notification. This incident highlights the increasing attacks on police officers in South Africa, with more than 20 officers killed in the past financial year. Between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, Saps lost 27 police officers in the line of duty, with 19 shot and killed, seven dying in motor vehicle accidents, and one hit with a blunt object. Since 2023, the Hawks have arrested 263 individuals for police killings, resulting in 75 life sentences and a combined 2,799 years in prison for those convicted. Saps recently honored fallen officers on the Interpol International Day of Remembrance for Fallen Officers.
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