Three members of the Beit Bridge SAPS were arrested by their Zimbabwean counterparts last week, after one of them accidentally discharged his firearm while wrestling with an alleged criminal they had apprehended in Zimbabwean territory.

The three police officers, Thabo Molala, Maphuti Kgare and Patrick Tshirudo, were reportedly on patrol along the Limpopo River when they spotted three men who were raping and robbing a Zimbabwean illegal immigrant who had crossed into South Africa.

According to local police spokesperson Insp. Tafanana Dzirutwe, the incident occurred on Thursday last week at around 08:00 near the Limpopo River. “The three SAPS members gave a chase until they eventually caught up with the suspects on the Zimbabwean side of the border. During the scuffle with one of the criminals, one of the SAPS members accidentally discharged his firearm, prompting Zimbabwean soldiers manning the border area to investigate and subsequently arresting the trio,” he said.

Molala, Kgare and Tshirudo were then handed over to the Zimbabwean police and they were then detained for a night at the police cells.

The three was then taken to the local court the following day to face charges of negligently discharging of a firearm. The local prosecutor, Mr Tichafa Mabhengere, declined to prosecute, arguing that they had no case to answer for, since the discharging of the firearm was not intentional.

Mabhengere also noted that the three were actually on duty when they were apprehended by the Zimbabwean authorities.

“These South African police officers were actually conducting legal patrols and had actually apprehended a criminal when one of them accidentally discharged his firearm and therefore I find no substantial reason to prosecute them,” the prosecutor declared.

The three SAPS members were, however, cautioned and subsequently released, following the withdrawal of the charges.