MOPANI – When Mr Moletjie Zacharia Mokhanya (48) of Kgasikopo village near Duivelskloof parked his Toyota Hilux bakkie at his home last Saturday evening, little did he know that the thieves were going to steal it during the night.

The thieves broke into his premises and stole the vehicle the following morning at about 02:00. Mr Mokhanya turned out to be a stranded pedestrian the following morning. He reported the matter to the police moments after discovering that his vehicle had disappeared.

Later that night (Sunday), a police officer who was patrolling the Lenyenye area, saw Mr Mokhanya's bakkie. The vehicle was going in the opposite direction, with the headlights switched off.

According to the spokesperson of the police in the Mopani area, Capt Moatshe Ngoepe, the police officer tried to stop the bakkie but the driver accelerated instead. The police officer then started to chase the stolen vehicle. Suddenly, the occupants of the stolen bakkie started to open fire at the police officer and he retaliated.

During the crossfire, one of the occupants of the stolen bakkie was shot and killed. He was identified as Stane Maponya (18). His two friends, Elias Selepe (33) and Kgomotso Rabotatha (22) were seriously injured during the crossfire.

According to the police statement, they were still in a serious condition in the Letaba Hospital at the time of going to press. The police officer was not injured during the incident. Mr Mokhanya is a school principal and a local traditional leader in the area.