The management of Vosman Police Station is asking the community to allow the legitimate process to unfold, after the shooting that claimed the life of a 28-year-old man.
After the shooting of Isaac Tebele on September 20, emotions are running high among community members.
On a disturbing video on the WITBANK NEWS webpage, it shows police allegedly opening fire on protesters in Vosman Extension 1 which led to Tebele’s death.
VIDEO HERE
The incident happened after protesters tried to stop the police from arresting foreign nationals. In the video, gun shots can be heard and two police vans are seen speeding off from the scene, where the man is left laying in the road.
He was taken to a nearby clinic where he later died.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, provincial police spokesperson said the police went to a house in Hlalanikahle Extension 1 to investigate allegations of drug dealing.
“The suspects, two Mozambican nationals, were arrested and put at the back of a police van. It is said that the community started arguing with the police and went to forcefully open the door of the van, allowing the suspects to escape. While the police were chasing the suspects, the community members also chased after the police,” Brig Mohlala said.
He said a preliminary probe suggest that the two members called for backup and Flying Squad members responded, however the members fired shots wherein Tebele was fatally wounded and three others were injured.
Brig Mohlala said the management of Vosman Police Station informed the Independent Police Investigation Department (Ipid) to investigate the matter.
“Ipid is the legitimate department resourced and empowered in terms of the legislature frame work to probe the conduct of the police. The public is therefore assured that proper investigation is going to be done and this matter will receive necessary attention. It is also relevant to explain that there are internal processes that are going to be followed to determine the fitness of the members implicated in the shooting,” Brig Mohlala said.
The questions whether the police is equipped to turn the tide against crime, is even debated in parliament.
“SAPS must refrain from using excessive force. We need specialised units that deal with specialised training to rebuild trust between communities and police,” this message from the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Spokesperson on Community Safety and Security, Bosman Grobler paved the way in a press release from the opposition party.
The DA condemns the spate of brutal attacks recently in Mpumalanga. “These criminals must be stopped and brought to book,” Grobler said.
He referred to recent attacks and mentioned an incident in which a 20-year-old pregnant girl from Bushbuckridge was kidnapped and murdered by a group of five last week.
Two further incidents include farm attacks between Lydenburg and Machadodorp and a robbery close to Pilgrims Rest last Friday. Both these incidents were very brutal and should be of great concern for the SAPS.
The three other victims of the shooting incident are all discharged from Witbank Hospital.
Mr Jonathan Pourle was discharged on Tuesday, September 22, Mr Thami Thobela refused hospital treatment and was sent home and Mr Tebogo Segole was discharged the same day after assessment by casualty.
