Suspect arrested for murder of a policeman

By Nomava Nobumba
26 February 2010

A 20 year old man from Khayelitsha has been arrested early this morning for the murder of a policeman.

37 year old Landsdown police constable, Mthunzi Fipaza was shot and killed in an alleged ambush by three men yesterday afternoon in Khayelitsha.

Constable Fipaza and his colleague were on their way home, driving a police vehicle on Mew way off-ramp. They witnessed an armed robbery in progress.

Police’s November Filander says the officers immediately stopped and went to assist the victim.

The suspects then ran in the direction of Ikwezi Park, Khayelitsha where they jumped over a fence with the Constable Fipaza giving chase on foot.

Filander says in Ikwezi Park the three suspects split up and led the officer into an alleged ambush.

“They shot him from different directions in a passage between the shacks.

He was fatally wounded and also robbed of his service pistol,” said Filander.

Filander says the suspect will appear soon in court.

Police refused to divulge any information regarding the suspect’s arrest.

“At this stage we cannot say where he will appear and he was arrested in Khayelitsha due to the investigation that is still in progress.

Another two suspects are still at large.