In a “case of mistaken identity”, a Cape Town law enforcement officer shot at a plainclothes police officer after seeing him struggle with a suspect while armed, the Hawks said on Thursday.

Constable Thando Sigcu, 38, was shot dead after apprehending a robbery suspect near a fast food outlet on the Foreshore at around 21:00 on Tuesday.

“It is reported that the constable was on patrol in plain clothes with his crew near one of the hotspots in the Cape Town CBD when they saw two suspicious males walking in Adderley Street and approached them, but the two fled in different directions,” Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego “Whilst the scuffle between the constable and the suspect was under way, two law enforcement officers in uniform drove past and observed what appeared to be an armed male attacking another person,” said Mogale.

The officers apparently reversed and stopped the vehicle in the road to intervene.

“One of the armed law enforcement officer[s] confronted the two men and ordered the unbeknown to him constable in plainclothes to drop his firearm. He then fired two shots, fatally striking the SAPS (SA Police Service] member in the chest and wounding the suspect in the face.”

Sigcu died on the scene. The 30-year-old suspect was taken to a nearby hospital under police guard.

Mogale said that packets of tik [methamphetamine] and mandrax tablets were found in his possession in hospitalNo arrests yet

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, said Mogale.

The City’s safety and security director, Richard Bosman, confirmed that a “law enforcement officer was involved in a shooting incident in the central business district”.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson Sontaga Seisa told News24 that the incident was not within their mandate “as the official who discharged the firearm is not a SAPS or Metro Police Department member.”

News of Sigcu’s death was met with outrage and sadness.

Ronel Stander, public sector organiser for trade union Solidarity said it was shocking that he was allegedly shot by a law enforcement officer.

She hoped that the investigation would urgently establish the reason for the shooting and that steps would be taken if negligence was found.

“[If so], a criminal case should be opened and he needs to be charged in terms of the discipline regulations,” she said.

“[At] the end of the day, SAPS, law enforcement, Metro Police etc, all share the same goal, to prevent and combat crime. They have to work together, not against each other and they should be able to trust each other’s judgement and be able to rely on each other.”

Sigcu was attached to the Cape Town Central police station and had been in the police force for five years.

A South African Air Force plane crashed at Goma Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday afternoon.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) spokesperson Siphiwe Dlamini said the plane had been deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MONUSCO).

It was damaged after crash landing.

“The C130 from the South African Air Force was on its way back to Goma after delivering logistic supplies at Beni when the incident happened,” he said.

“Nobody was injured during the landing and a Board of Inquiry will be convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.”

Dlamini said more information would be released once it was available.

Videos on social media showed smoke rising from the plane.

Basic education minister Angie Motshekga on Tuesday announced the 2019 matric results with the highest pass rate in 25 years.
Image: Thapelo Morebudi/The Sunday Times
Did the results make you shout in celebration or groan ‘ho hum’? Or is it a case of the class half full?

Three South Africans called Quid, Pro and Quo had it out on Tuesday night, and this is a how it went.

Police are searching for a Durban man wanted for allegedly harbouring hundreds of different types of ammunition, bullet reloading equipment, gun powder and fake passports in the basement of a house.

In a statement on Thursday, police said a team of police officers and members of the Hawks discovered various types of ammunition at a house in Evans Road, Umbilo, on Wednesday.

“Earlier yesterday the sheriff of the court requested the presence of the police as he was to evict the person who has occupied the house without paying rent.

“It is alleged that when the police and sheriff visited the house in Umbilo, the person that was to be evicted was not present.

“According to the statement, the domestic worker was in the house and while the sheriff was busy taking property out of the house, police made the discovery.

“A total of 668 various types of ammunition, 3,840 bullet casings, gun powder and three fake passports were discovered in the basement. A rifle was also recovered.”

Preliminary investigations revealed that the illegal occupant of the house, whose identity is known to TimesLIVE, was previously charged for possession of explosives and ammunition and was out on bail.

“A case of failing to safeguard ammunition has been opened for investigation at Umbilo SAPS. The suspect is sought by police,” the statement read.

While the class of 2019 has made history with this year’s matric pass rate, social media is buzzing with advice and tips for prospective first-year university students.

The pass rate was the highest since the dawn of democracy in SA in 1994 and it was the first time the combined matric pass rate had breached the 80% threshold.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the results are a “triumph and a clear signal” that the government’s substantial investment in education was yielding results.

“South Africans can be proud that education, like most aspects of our nation’s development, is on an upward trajectory, which should inspire all of us to work together to accelerate and maintain excellence,” Ramaphosa said.

Twitter users shared their insights, including tips on how to survive, stay motivated and avoid scams when seeking help at university.