One of six critically wounded cops dies

A policeman has died after being critically wounded during a shoot-out with robbers at a grocery store in Bizana, in the Eastern Cape.

"I would like to send condolences to the family of the police officer who passed away," said human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August.

The policeman was taken to hospital with five other officers, who were also critically wounded during the shoot-out.

Police received a tip-off on Tuesday that the local Shoprite in Bizana was being robbed.

When they arrived, a gang armed with AK-47 assault rifles opened fire on them.

"The growing trend of attacks against the police will not deter us from the work that we do in the fight against crime," said Sauls-August.

"[The SA Police Service] will continue to do its work to uphold the rule of law in this country whether they get shot at or not," she said.

One of the robbers was killed during the shoot-out and two others were arrested, said Sauls-August.

National Police commissioner Bheki Cele was expected to visit the critically wounded officers on Wednesday, said police spokesman Colonel Vish Naidoo.

A number of civilians were also wounded when they were caught in the crossfire.

However, Naidoo said he could not provide any information about them as he was "getting conflicting reports".