Residents want justice for Sello

Residents of Glen Marikana embarked on a march to the Kempton Park Police Station on December 14.
The residents were dressed in EFF regalia and sought resolutions for the killing of one of their community members, Sello Cry Seroba.

Seroba was allegedly killed on July 19 when police officials acted on an eviction notice served to the informal settlement dwellers.

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According to an eyewitness who requested to remain anonymous, Seroba was allegedly shot from the back during the anti-eviction protest.

Four others were injured and hospitalised during the protest.

According to the eyewitness who said he was Seroba’s neighbour, warning shots were fired by police and while the crowds refused to back down police members started shooting directly at them.
“We thought he had been hit by a rubber bullet because we know how painful rubber bullets can be, but we then noticed that the warning shots that were given were live rounds and we saw the police officer who shot at him,” he told Express.

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Residents said they organised transport for Seroba to get medical attention, however, he succumbed to his injuries while in hospital.
Regional deputy secretary of the EFF, Dineo Matsi, spoke during the handover of the memorandum of grievances to Kempton Park SAPS.

He said police brutality should come to an end.
“We are here to seek resolutions for the murder of Sello Seroba. Among other things, what frustrates us is that the actual suspect is known and witnesses have come forward to point out who shot at us,” said Matsi.
Colonel Sele Matsela from Kempton Park SAPS received the memorandum on the day.
“We acknowledge the case brought forward to the police. We will follow up and have a meeting with community leaders,” he told the crowd.

The matter is currently with Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The Express sent an enquiry to IPID on December 15 requesting an update on the progress of the case. Comment was requested by 08:30 on December 19.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.

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Kempton Park SAPS corporate communications officer Captain Jethro Mtshali said the matter was being attended to by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and feedback was yet to be given to the community leaders.
“What we would like the community of Glen Marikana to know is that as police officers we cannot investigate ourselves, that is why we have the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. At this moment it is not possible to know how the investigations are progressing. We can assure the community that feedback will be requested and given to them as soon as possible,” said Mtshali.