53 police officers killed in S. Africa this year

One more police officer has been killed in South Africa, bringing the number of police officers killed to 53 since the beginning of this year, authorities said Monday.

Sergeant Johny Marshall, 45, was stabbed to death at a taxi rank in Mpumalanga Province on Sunday morning, police Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said, adding that no one has been arrested.

In the past week, four other members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) also died in the hands of criminals. Meanwhile, a member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department was gruesomely killed at a shopping complex during an armed robbery.

President Jacob Zuma on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of police officers.

"Police are the buffer between the community and criminals and we should all work together to support the police in their work. We also urge our law enforcement officers to defend themselves against criminals within the confines of the law," Zuma said.

Zuma urged the public to come forward with information that would lead to the arrest of the criminals.

On Monday, Zuma visited the family of Simon Mabatamela, the member of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department who was brutally killed in the line of duty at a shopping complex in Johannesburg during an armed robbery.

The robbery and killing was captured on CCTV and has drawn condemnation nationwide.

Zuma's visit was to provide support and offer his condolences on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, the Presidency said.

"You have a situation where the protectors of our citizens are... target number one from the criminals," Zuma said during the visit. Endit