Teens arrested after brutal axe attack on Mossel Bay police officer

A MOSSEL Bay police officer had a narrow escape when he sustained life-threatening injuries to his neck and head in an attack by four axe-wielding juveniles while walking with his partner in the early hours of Sunday.

The teenagers aged 16 and 19 have since been arrested and were expected to appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s court on Monday.

Police spokesperson Christopher Spies said a thorough and swift investigation into the brutal attack on the off-duty police official attached to the Da Gamaskop police in Mossel Bay, ensured that four juveniles face charges of attempted murder.

He said the motive for the attack forms part of the ongoing police investigation.

“Investigation into the attack reveals that the 30-year-old Constable and his partner were walking along Dalindyebo Street, Mossel Bay on Sunday, 25 May 2025 at about 1:45am when a group of men, wielding an axe and other sharp objects accosted and assaulted the member.”

He said the officer was taken to a nearby medical facility where he remains in a critical condition.

“Western Cape police management assigned internal SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) practitioners to provide professional social-psychological support to the member and his relatives.

"The provincial management strongly condemned the attack and commended the investigators for their prompt response in bringing the assailants to book,” he said.

Cape Times