A 45-year-old suspected illegal miner was shot and wounded when police tried to arrest him at Emjindini Trust in Barberton near Nelspruit on Friday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said the man pointed a firearm at police members and tried to pull the trigger after they cornered him while allegedly mining illegally.
Members of the National Intervention Unit (NIU), who were on a mission to prevent and disrupt illegal mining and other related crimes in the area, caught the suspects in the act, Mohlala said.
“The two were interrupted by the arrival of the members and as they approached the suspects, the other male person managed to flee.”
According to Mohlala, the police members were trying to arrest the suspect when he took out a firearm and cocked it.
Mohlala said:
He was then disarmed and taken to hospital for medical treatment under police guard. During preliminary investigation, members discovered that the confiscated firearm was an airgun.
The suspect is facing charges including attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, pointing of a firearm and illegal mining.
Mohlala added that police are looking for the other suspect, who is still on the run.
“The investigation still continues, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will also conduct their investigation into the shooting which involved police officers.”
Source News24
