An off‑duty police officer, **Constable Raymond Khoza**, lost his life in a shocking and violent attack at his home in Tsakane during the early hours of Saturday, 18 October.
According to Captain Nelda Sekgobela, spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni District Police, Khoza was sleeping when the tragedy struck. A neighbour reportedly phoned him to say that a group of around nine people had gathered outside his yard. Hearing this, he grabbed his service firearm and went outside to investigate.
As he stepped onto the street and neared the neighbour’s gate, gunshots erupted from the neighbour’s yard. Khoza was struck multiple times in his lower body, but despite his grievous injuries he dragged himself back and locked himself inside his home. During the struggle, he dropped his service weapon, which the assailants then seized before fleeing the scene.
Investigations revealed a disturbing motive behind the ambush. Earlier in the week, Constable Khoza—responding to community complaints—had warned a drug dealer residing just three houses away. He had urged him to cease his illicit activities in the neighbourhood. The dealer, apparently incensed by this intervention, is believed to have orchestrated the attack.
Officers from the Brakpan Crime Prevention unit were the first to arrive at Khoza’s house. They forced open the door to find him gravely wounded on his bedroom floor.
Tsakane Crime Prevention officers swiftly identified and arrested the drug dealer near the crime scene. During questioning, the suspect confessed to hiring hitmen to murder the constable.
Ballistic evidence recovered at the scene included 19 spent 9 mm cartridges and two 9 mm projectiles. Authorities also seized Khoza’s cell phone as part of their forensic examination.
The search for the remaining suspects remains ongoing, with investigators working to trace their homes and bring them into custody.
Constable Khoza’s death is a grim reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face—even off duty—when tackling criminal elements deeply rooted in their own communities.
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