An Ikageng detective, Sgt Lukhanyo Mnembe accused of shooting to death Thamsanqa Phoofolo has been granted R3000 bail on 9 April.
He is expected to appear again at the Potchefstroom magistrates’ court on 29 May for further investigation.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson, Moses Dlamini, reported that the police officer had fatally shot Phoofolo on 5 April. He had allegedly gone to the victim’s home on Friday night to confront him about allegations that he had stolen from his (the officer’s) tavern.
“The SAPS arrested the suspect and handed him over to Ipid, which has charged him with murder,” he said.
Duduzile Phoofolo, the victim’s younger sister told the Herald that his brother, Thamsanqa was sleeping in the shack with Tinah, his 20-year-old girlfriend, who is six months pregnant. The altercation started when she let the police officer in when he knocked on the door.
The younger sibling finds it hard to accept that her brother is gone. Thamsanqa was buried in Sarafina Street, Ext. 6 on 13 April. “We are going to miss him. It’s painful,” said Duduzile.
