News24 reports that an Eastern Cape police officer died after being shot by robbers in Dutywa on Monday morning. Sergeant Nyameko Mbelani, 38, died in hospital on Tuesday morning.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana reported that early on Monday, SA Police Service members were patrolling on the N2 Idutywa national road when they received a call about a business robbery that was in progress. As the police officers responded and drove toward the local filling station, they were met by a hail of bullets from the attackers. Mbelani, who was one of two officers in the police vehicle, was shot in the upper body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in a critical condition and died on Tuesday. The husband and father from Chafuthweni in Centane was stationed at the Dutywa police station's Community Service Centre. He joined the police service in 2006. Six of the eight suspects have been arrested. Two are still on the run. Eastern Cape police commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga expressed shock at the murder.

• Read the original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24

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