A Pretoria man is in a coma in a Krugersdorp hospital after an incident at a local guest house during which he was shot in the head.
Cecil Benade from Mike Bolhuis’ Specialised Security Services who is part of the investigating team confirmed the incident to the News.
It is believed that the man and his wife arrived at the guesthouse with another couple on Friday, November 12. An altercation occurred at around 16:00 when their room was still not ready.
Benade said both parties called the police after a struggle. It is alleged that the man was then shot in the head by a police officer. They were not sure how many shots were fired, but added that the incident was being investigated.
Bolhuis said their main investigation would be to established if the correct protocols had been followed during the incident, such as firstly whether the person had been warned persistently before the firearm was used, adding that proper communication was always key.
The second protocol would have been to draw the firearms and thirdly to have aimed the firearm.
Bolhuis said the fourth protocol would be to fire one shot into the ground and the fifth protocol would be to shoot the perpetrator in the foot.
The last protocol would be to shoot but only if there was imminent danger, and even then one would not kill someone unless the person had a firearm and was endangering your life or the life of a person close by.
They will also be looking at the number of police members at the scene when the shooting occurred. Another protocol, if the person had no weapons, will be checked, Bolhuis said. For example, if six police members were at the scene they should have overpowered the person and implemented police techniques such as handcuffing or making use of pressure points.
Lastly they will established if only the number of shots the situation required had been fired, and whether it was absolutely necessary to have used a firearm.
If you are a police member you must follow the protocol – you need to do what the law says because you are there to protect and serve. Police are there to defuse the situation; to step in and do a decent evaluation – also of the risks, identification and then apply crime prevention,” Bolhuis said.
He said following their investigation they will look at a way forward for the parties involved.
The firearm will be taken away from the officer and ballistic tests will be done.
He said if you do not know your firearm like the back of your hand you should not carry a firearm.
“If there is imminent danger you can protect yourself; that law has not changed yet.”
