A Zimbabwean man has gone on the run after he savagely killed a South African police officer with a machete to prevent the law enforcement officer from arresting him for rape.

The South African Police Services (SAPS) have since launched a manhunt for  Simon Matakura who is accused of hacking a police officer to death with a machete while he was being arrested for allegedly raping his teen relative.

Simon Matakura is said to have hacked Warrant Officer Thinandavha Stanley Mudau,53, to death on Sunday morning in Sibasa CBD, Limpopo.

Afterwards, Matakura allegedly turned his attention towards his niece who was with the officer, attacking her with the machete too before fleeing the scene.   He is yet to be apprehended.

Mudau had arrived at his office on Sunday morning to find the teenager, 17, who said she had been raped by her uncle, Matakura.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said the officer then put the teenager into his vehicle to take her to the nearest police station where a statement would be taken and a case opened.

On the way there, the teenager spotted Matakura who was in his workshop.

When Mudau tried to arrest him, Matakura allegedly attacked him with a machete, killing him on the spot.

“His attempt to arrest the suspect turned fatal when the suspect produced a panga and hacked him. He died instantly on the scene.” reports IOL.

Naidoo said the man then turned his attention towards his niece, hacking her with the same machete and seriously injuring her.

Captain Matimba Maluleke, Limpopo Hawks spokesperson, said the information they currently have on the suspect is that his name is Simon Matakura and he’s a foreign national.