Hawks investigates the death of a police officer in Eastern Cape

Rentse Khiba

07 September 2015

Eastern Cape have recovered a body of a police officer with a bullet wound to his head.

It is alleged that Sergeant Xola Sowambi, was en-route to report for duty on Saturday, to start the morning shift but he never reached his place of work at Fort Beaufort Police Station.

Police Spokesperson Khaya Tonjeni said his body was found yesterday morning in an orange field next to the R67 road between Fort Beaufort and Seymour.

Tonjeni reported the shooting is believed to be the result of a possible hijacking gone wrong.

The victim’s vehicle was found on Saturday evening, when it was stopped by local police officials, two unknown males fled the vehicle and managed to escape into the nearby forest.

Meanwhile The Acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation Major General Mthandazo Ntlemeza said in a statement that this is not acceptable, and he has assembled a team of high level detectives to probe this murder.

Hawks Spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed they are investigating the murder of Sowambi.

"So far there are no suspects in the case, but police have assembled a task team consisting of Hawks members and they are hoping to have the suspects behind bars soon," Mulaudzi added.