BREAKING NEWS: Alex Police Station Commander suspended after fatal shooting at cop shop

The Station Commander of the Alexandra Police Station, Brigadier David Mbongeni Ngcobo has been suspended with immediate effect.

This follows a preliminary report of investigations into the Alex Police Station shooting last week in which four people were gunned down by a rogue police constable. One of the dead was a police major at the station while the other were the rogue officer’s wife and two relatives of hers.

They were laying a charge of domestic violence against the rogue officer, Constable Ronnie Masie, when the constable burst into the room and shot dead his wife, Sowela Anna Nkuna, and then turned the gun on Major Thomas Moetlo, before killing the two relatives who had accompanied her to the police station.

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The two relatives are Stephina Semenya (52) and Matthews Mabayi (39). Masie then fired at two other officers as he made his way out of the room, but missed. He then boarded a taxi home but was followed by members of the Tactical Response Team who shot him dead after he opened fire on them as he alighted from the taxi.

Announcing the suspensions of senior management at the station, Provincial Police Commissioner, General Lesetja Mothiba said a preliminary investigation into the shooting had revealed a number of managerial issues at the station.

“Whilst the investigation is continuing, the Alexandra Cluster Commander Major General Zodwa Ettie Molefe has provided a preliminary report about the incident. On the basis of the report, it is clear that there are a number of managerial issues which were not properly attended to.

“As a consequence, after following proper internal procedures, I have taken a decision to suspend three managers from Alexandra Police Station,” said General Lesetja Mothiba.

Those suspended are Station Commander Brigadier Ngcobo; Visible Policing head, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Sebolai Modukanele; and a Shift Commander, Warrant Officer Ezekiel Tseko Masupa.

Mothiba said investigations were continuing and disciplinary action against other police members suspected to be involved in the matter cannot be ruled out at this stage.

Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega said, “I am pleased with the progress the team under the leadership of General Mothiba is making. This is an extremely serious matter and it is being handled correctly.

“We have been talking about consequences [for] management for some time now and I am encouraged to see it being implemented. Without casting aspersions on anybody, I want to state clearly that those in positions of leadership must be held accountable.”

The suspected rogue police constable is believed to have obtained the firearm under false pretenses. Masie is said to have told the issuing officer at Alexandra Police Station that he was going to escort a prisoner and needed the firearm. He was then issued with the firearm that was allegedly used in the murders.

His original firearm is said to have been taken away after numerous complaints and allegations of domestic violence against him. Tweets from the Saps also allege that he was involved in multiple relationships.

It is claimed that the officer lacked discipline and often acted aggressively towards his supervisors, hence his firearm had been taken away from him in March. The issuing officer is accused of issuing it without following proper procedure.

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