A policeman was nearly killed after he was shot in the stomach outside a voting station by armed robbers who made off with his gun.
Police are investigating a case of attempted murder after Sergeant Louis Plaatjies was attacked outside the polling station in Pliny Road, Athlone, in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Plaatjies was waiting to escort an Independent Electoral Commission official off the premises.
The cop was standing alone outside the Baptist Church, which was a voting station, when he was confronted by four suspects who robbed him of his service pistol.
A police source tells the Daily Voice three men jumped out of a silver Toyota Avanza, one armed with a shotgun and another held a 9mm pistol to Plaatjies’ head.
“The suspects told him not to move and as one of the suspects reached for his firearm, the officer pushed the suspect and ran,” the source says.
The cop was shot in his stomach as he tried to flee his attackers.
The suspects fled the scene with his firearm and are yet to be arrested.
None of the IEC officials, who were still inside the church, were injured.
SCENE: Baptist Church in Pliny Road, Athlone. CREDIT: Brendan Magaar
Lieutenant Colonel André Traut says Sergeant Plaatjies’ partner, who was also inside the voting station, was also unharmed.
“(Yesterday) morning at around 2.05am a police sergeant stationed at a voting station on the corner of Pliny and Laurence Roads, Athlone, was attacked by four armed suspects and robbed of his service pistol,” Traut says.
“The member sustained a gunshot wound and was admitted to hospital in a stable condition.
“The suspects fled the scene in a silver Toyota Avanza and are yet to be arrested.
“The second member stationed at the voting station at the time of the attack was not harmed.”
Anyone who can assist on the identities of the suspects can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.