Two Eastern Cape Police Officers Killed in Libode After Responding to Spaza Shop Attack

• Two police officers from Mthatha-based units were shot and killed in Libode in the early hours of Friday morning
• The officers had responded to reports of an armed attack on a spaza shop and were later found dead
• The South African Police Service has launched a manhunt for the suspects believed to be responsible for the killings

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

EASTERN CAPE — The South African Police Service has launched a manhunt following the killing of two officers in Libode, near Mthatha, in the early hours of Friday, 18 September 2026.

The two officers, aged 30 and 52, were members of the Mthatha National Intervention Unit and the Mthatha Public Order Policing Unit, respectively. They were shot dead after responding to a distress call about an armed attack on a spaza shop in the area.

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According to initial reports, armed suspects had stormed the spaza shop and were demanding money from the operator when police were alerted. The two officers answered the call for assistance and were later discovered with fatal gunshot wounds.

Law enforcement agencies have since mobilised to track down those responsible for the attack. No arrests had been confirmed at the time of publication.

*This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Source: Briefly News