Limpopo cop shot dead

A police officer was shot dead in the early hours of Saturday morning while driving home from work in Limpopo's Matilu village, says police.

Lt-Col Mohale Ramatseba said the officer, 49, from the Grobblersdal police station, was found lying in the middle of the road with a gunshot to his head and a big cut on his leg.

"His firearm is missing and the police vehicle he was driving was found parked on the side of the road. It also appears like he was run over by a vehicle ," said Ramatseba.

It appeared as though someone tried to cut off the officer's leg with a sharp object, he said.

The officer's body was found by members of the public who alerted the police.

Police had since received information that someone came to the scene and took his firearm to keep it safe. However, Ramatseba said they were still verifying the information as no one had come forward with the firearm.

He said a task team was established to investigate the murder.

This brings the total number of police officers killed this year, to 49.