The provincial police spokesperson, Mahlomola Kareli, says the incident took place on Wednesday 2 November 2022 at about 11:10, when two female officers allegedly stopped a speeding vehicle on the R103 road. 

He says two vehicles joined the one that stopped. One of the traffic officers approached the suspects and was pointed with a firearm and instructed to come near the suspected car. The other officer, seeing what was happening, tried to make an alarm but was also pointed at with rifles and instructed to approach the suspects. 

Both officers were put in the vehicle and the suspects fled the scene.

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"The stock theft police of Vrede reacted swiftly after they received information and came across the three suspicious vehicles, after which a shootout ensued. One of the SAPS members, a female constable, was shot and wounded in the right leg and the suspects managed to get in their vehicles and flee the scene," he adds.

Kareli further says the suspects' vehicles were seen heading towards Walkerville in Gauteng. The two traffic officers were disarmed and dropped in the bushes near Walkerville. He states that police were informed about the whereabouts of the officers and they were found unharmed. 

"One police vehicle was riddled with bullets. The suspects are at large and were driving in a gold-coloured Volvo, a white Audi and a grey Toyota Fortuner.  The suspects are armed and dangerous.

"The Vrede police are investigating a case of attempted murder and armed robbery," he concludes.

 OFM News