Boys shoot, wound E Cape cop

2004-01-01 13:50

Umtata - A group of boys shot and wounded an on-duty police officer at Ntshiqo Village in Tsolo early on Thursday, said Eastern Cape police.

Superintendent Nondumiso Jafta said sergeant Ntombincinci Bawuti, 39, was conducting a stop-and-search operation with his colleagues at 01:00 when he was shot.

Jafta said a policeman saw a group of boys, approached them and then asked to search them.

When other policemen approached to help their colleague, the boys fired several shots hitting Bawuti in the shoulder and arm, Jafta said.

Police returned fire and the assailants fled.

Bawuti was admitted to a local hospital.

Police found a number of cartridges at the scene.

- SAPA