Cops under attack for violence against civilians
Four children aged five, six and twins of 11 were shot and injured. The children were transported to the nearby Thelle Mogoerane Hospital, where they were treated and stabilised.
Media spokespersons for the SAPS within the Kathorus police cluster remain unavailable to give clarity on the alleged murder of a 40-year-old Vosloorus resident following a reported altercation with a member of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) on Sunday, March 29.
Information gathered by Kathorus MAIL so far has since revealed that the incident happened on Sunday afternoon during a raid by the EMPD at a house in Vosloorus, where it is alleged a group of local residents were gathered and drinking.
The gathering, according to the pronouncement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa, violated the 21-day lockdown that communities were asked to observe by remaining indoors in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus and the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is unclear how 40-year-old Sibusiso Amos met his death, but sketchy details are that he died after an altercation with an EMPD officer. A second man, believed to be private security personnel, was also charged alongside the officer for Amos’s death.
The two accused made a formal appearance at the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court this morning (April 31) on a charge of murder and attempted murder. The case was postponed.
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Efforts by Kathorus MAIl to reach the Vosloorus SAPS for more details proved futile as the station’s media officer Captain Piet Rossouw’s cellphone remained unanswered.
Zonkizizwe SAPS’s media spokesperson Motuku Tema, who has been identified as the current SAPS cluster media officer on duty, later confirmed the murder case and arrest of the EMPD officer and the private security person.
Tema refused to provide details, pointing out that he was not the commander in charge on Sunday, and referred Kathorus MAIL to Rossouw’s office, but calls to his cellphone went unanswered.
EMPD’s media officer, Kobedi Mokheseng, told Kathorus MAIL that his department had been barred by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) from divulging any information to the media about the matter. “The IPID office is handling the investigation and they have requested us to direct all enquiries about this case to them,” explained Mokheseng.
Acting IPID spokesperson Sontaga Seisa said EMPD officers were patrolling the area on Sunday when they noticed people drinking alcohol at a tavern.
Seisa told journalists the EMPD officers were enforcing the Covid-19 lockdown regulations. According to Seisa, community members attacked the officers when they attempted to make an arrest.
“In retaliation the police then discharged rubber bullets. It is further alleged that the deceased was followed up to his veranda, where he was fatally shot.”
Sesia said IPID investigators attended the scene and went back to continue with the investigation.
He also confirmed the arrest of the two men, a 34-year-old unnamed EMPD officer and a 45-year-old civilian who is believed to be a private security officer.
Seisa confirmed that IPID is investigating several complaints that have been made against the police by members of the public for the use of excessive force during the 21-day national lockdown.
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