Police are on the hunt for 20-year-old Thabang Rapudi, the young man accused of attacking one of their own with an axe at Mmathethe village on Thursday morning.
In a brief interview with The Voice, Officer Commanding District No.4, Russ Letsebe, revealed the incident occurred at around 0630hrs at the suspect’s home.
“The suspect was wanted for a case of unlawful wounding reported before Mmathethe Police Post on July 7th. The two male officers on duty went to the suspect’s place in the morning to meet him before he could go anywhere. After they knocked he responded in a good manner, [saying] that he was coming,” explained the Senior Superintendent.
However, while the two cops were waiting for him to open up, all hell broke loose. Rapudi reportedly burst out of the house clutching an axe, striking one of the officers in the head.
What is even more frustrating, neighbours then came to assist the suspect, took the axe and went away with the suspect, who is still at large,” disclosed Letsebe, who urged anyone with information that could lead to Rapudi’s arrest to come forward.
Bleeding badly, the injured officer was rushed to Mmathethe Health Post where he was treated and discharged.
The top cop voiced concern at the rising trend of police officers being attacked in public but the public doing nothing to help.
Last Friday, a policeman was badly injured when he was struck several times by a stone-wielding thug in Molopolole in the middle of the day (check this week’s front page). Several bystanders filmed the incident, with the footage quickly going viral on social media.
Kesaobaka Thebolo, 31, was arrested in connection with the brutal beating.
Then on Monday, an officer sustained minor injuries to his back and neck after an altercation with a 24-year-old man. The youth, Julius Pelaelo, has since been charged with unlawful wounding and was remanded in custody after his court appearance on Wednesday.
