An 18-year-old youth has been arrested for the murder of a police reservist in Nyanga, Cape Town police said on Tuesday.

Inspector Bernadine Steyn said a police reservist was killed and two other officers were injured when four occupants of a red Mazda opened fire on them around 11pm on Monday.

"The members, who were on duty and part of a routine crime operation, saw a stationary car with four occupants in Sikhwalimanzi Street and approached the vehicle. Several shots were fired at them."

Steyn said Reserve Constable Bulelani Ndita (29), sustained a bullet wound in the chest and died on the scene. He had been a reservist at Philippi East Police station for the past year and a half.

"A SAPS senior officer based at Provincial Visible Policing was shot in the stomach and both legs. He is currently in a serious but stable condition in hospital."

The third officer, a detective constable (30), sustained a gunshot wound in his leg.

He is in a stable condition in hospital.

Steyn said the four abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.

"One [the 18-year-old] was arrested at Brown's Farm."

He would appear on charges of murder and attempted murder at the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

The other three were still at large.

Sapa