Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A Da Gamaskop Police constable with an axe wound to his neck was undergoing life-saving surgery when his colleagues arrested the first suspect of the brutal attack on 25 May.

Three more arrests were made the same day, and four teenage suspects were behind bars less than 20 hours after the incident.

The 30-year-old constable, who had started work at Da Gamaskop Police Station on 5 May, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition following the attack, just before 02:00 on Sunday. 

By 10:10 that morning, Da Gamaskop Police had arrested the first suspect. The last arrest was made after 20:00 that evening.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said the officer, who cannot be named at this stage at the request of his family, and due to the ongoing police investigation, was attacked while walking with a friend down Dalindyebo Street in Mossel Bay. The officer was off-duty at the time.

Spies said a group of people, wielding an axe and other sharp objects, attacked the officer. The attackers fled the scene.

Sergeant Sonja du Plessis at the blood-stained spot where the attack took place. Photo: Chelsea Pieterse

The incident was reported to the Da Gamaskop Police and a case of attempted murder was opened. Da Gamaskop Police Station detective Sergeant Sonja du Plessis was assigned the case and work began on tracing the attackers.

Under the instruction of the head of the Da Gamaskop detectives, Lieutenant Colonel Maria Gerber, a team of officers comprising Du Plessis, Constable Jan Hendrik Els, Warrant Officer Janette Yssel, Sergeant Elwynand Karelse and Constable Charmlin Hartnick set out, gathering evidence.

Putting boots to the ground, the team was able to follow up on essential information, which led to the arrests of the four. The teenagers, aged 16 to 19, were charged with attempted murder and appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on Monday.

The court case was rolled over to Tuesday, 27 May, and then postponed to 3 June for a formal bail application.

The constable was still in hospital on Wednesday, 28 May, and in a stable condition.

Spies said provincial police management strongly condemned the attack and commended the investigators for the speedy arrests of suspects.

He said police would not tolerate attacks on officers and would deploy maximum resources to ensure perpetrators were brought to book.

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