Picture: for illustration purposes
In a turn of events that sparked national interest, Warrant Officer Vusumzi Makhaza, a prominent VIP protection officer from Free State, appeared in court this week on charges of attempted murder. According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Makhaza was embroiled in a tavern altercation in Bloemfontein, post which he allegedly sought revenge against the assaulter.
IPID divulged that Makhaza was arrested in the midst of his duties escorting the Free State Provincial Treasury MEC. He subsequently made his appearance in court, after which he was released on a warning. Robbie Raburabu, the spokesperson for the IPID, conveyed that the 49-year-old VIP officer had tracked the perpetrator to his girlfriend's residence, where a perilous incident unfolded.
The unsuspecting woman answered the door, her nine-month-old baby in her arms, only to shut it hastily upon revealed the presence of an armed police officer. As Raburabu reports, Makhaza allegedly fired his weapon in an attempt to gain access to the house, causing damage to the door. The local police force was alerted to the scene after he made his exit.
The IPID was notified two days after the said incident and Makhaza was arrested on 28 September 2023. It was revealed that Makhaza was performing his professional duties as part of the security detail for the Free State Treasury MEC at the time of his detention. Following his court appearance on Monday, 2 October 2023, where he answered to charges of attempted murder, he was released on a warning with orders to reappear on 2 November 2023.