[Not for sensitive viewers] Security officer fatally shoots tractor ‘thief’ in head

Tarlton Police confirmed that an alleged tractor thief was shot and killed by a security officer near Matshelapad informal settlement on Saturday, 6 January.

“The 43-year-old man was allegedly riding on a tractor from his place of employment to his place of residence at Matshelapad when he was followed by the security officers,” said Lucky Matome, spokesperson for the Tarlton Police in a press statement.

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“He allegedly had stolen the tractor he was driving.”

At Matshelapad he was allegedly shot in the head by the security officer.

“The police were summoned to the scene where they found the situation to be tense, as the members of the community attacked the security officers,” said Matome. “The vehicle belonging to the security officers was badly damaged, but the officers escaped unharmed.”

At approximately 11am the police arrested the 46-year-old security officer in connection with the murder.

The man made his first appearance in the Krugersdorp Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 8 January on charges of murder. There has been no news yet on the outcome of his appearance.

Matome said the Tarlton Police station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Christina Soaedi condemned all acts of vigilantism that emanate from such situations.

“She urged members of the community to work with the police and not against them, as in most cases crucial evidential material is destroyed by such actions.”

Meanwhile, community members expressed their anger about the incident on Facebook. They blamed racism for the incident, saying the deceased “was killed by the farm owner for using a tractor during lunch to go get something for himself to eat”.

The post reads as follows:

“A black farm worker who was a tractor operator was killed by the farm owner for using a tractor during lunch to go get something for himself to eat. His death might not be in the mainstream media because of obvious reasons. A breadwinner, father, uncle, brother was killed.”

Hours after the post was made on the social media platform, hundreds of users flooded the comment section with their opinions about the incident. The discussion became rather heated as those who didn’t attribute the incident to racism said that it was fake news and sensation.

https://www.facebook.com/ZANWatch/posts/402405980180707?comment_id=402419853512653&notif_id=1515411168947074&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic

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