Passengers panic as police open fire
A Zimbabwean national opened a case of malicious damage to property against the police after they allegedly shot three wheels of the taxi he was driving on Tuesday night
POLOKWANE – The incident took place on the corner Landdros Maré and Biccard Streets and the taxi involved was transporting passengers to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.
According to one of the passengers, the police stopped the taxi and asked for a R300 bribe and when the driver refused, the police officers shot three shots aiming at the tyres of the taxi. The passenger said they thought they were going to die.
The taxi driver is now in the Polokwane police holding cells for questioning after the officers who allegedly shot at the taxi opened a case of crimen injuria against him.
Polokwane Police Spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, said they were still investigating the matter and that it has been handed over to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for further investigation.
“We confirm that there was a shooting by one of our police officers, but we don’t know yet what forced them to open fire at the taxi. Three shots were fired which were aimed at the wheels of the taxi and the matter is now being investigated by the IPID,” said Phala.
He further said both the driver and the police officer opened cases pertaining to the matter.
