In a tragic incident, a KwaZulu-Natal job seeker lost his life while attempting to evade robbers by jumping off a bridge in Phoenix, near Durban.
Prem Balram, spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said that the man was accosted by two suspects who robbed him of his shoes and personal belongings while he was on his way to a job interview.
"When witnesses were interviewed, it was established that the man was en route to seek employment when he was accosted by two suspects. The victim broke free and jumped off the bridge onto a railway line to escape," said Balram.
Balram added that officers working on the railway line found the victim around 07:30 am.
"He explained that he was robbed after he jumped, was critically injured, and was unable to defend himself.
Balram said the man died before paramedics got to the scene.
Last year November, an off-duty South African Police Services (SAPS) Sergeant allegedly participating in a robbery was killed in a shootout with police.
The 42-year-old police officer was stationed at Madeira SAPS in the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said members from Mthatha police received information about armed suspects in the area of Mqanduli.
“The suspects were traced and located at the bottle store in Dobe location, Mqanduli.
“It is further alleged that when the suspects spotted the police, they started running in different directions, but one suspect who was at the entrance of the bottle store opened fire.
“Police retaliated by returning fire.”
Nkohli said a 42-year-old man was fatally wounded while other suspects managed to flee.
“A preliminary investigation revealed that the man was an off-duty police Sergeant.”