A POLICE officer died on Thursday, January 12, after responding to a burglary in progress in Katlehong, on the outskirts of Alberton.
What makes Constable Tshepo Tladi’s death particularly shocking is that he was killed in what appears to be a friendly-fire incident, in which one of his colleagues accidentally shot him in the head.
The incident occurred during an exchange of gunfire between the police and suspects at a petrol station.
In the video it appears that the victim was shot when he moved to one side while firing on the suspects. His colleague then also fired on the suspects, but struck Const Tladi in what appears to be the head.
The video brings several questions to light, especially with regards to the level of training the police officers receive.
An insider told the RECORD that only about 10 percent of officers are competent because they just get pushed through.
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News about the incident relayed many falsehoods, leading to speculation as to whether or not there was an attempted cover up.
Some of the reports state that the officer was shot in the head with an R5 rifle by robbers, but the video clearly shows the officer being shot by his colleague, using his service weapon, a Beretta M9. Reports also say he died in the hospital, but it appears he died instantly from the gunshot.
RECORD has posed some pressing questions to the police, to which they replied as follows:
“At this point, we are unable to comment as there is already a high-level investigation underway by the Hawks around the killing of the member in Katlehong on Thursday. We will await the outcome of the investigation and communicate at the right time,” said Captain Mega Ndobe, the spokesperson for the Katlehong North Police Station.
RECORD will keep readers updated on any new information as it becomes available.
WARNING: NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS:
https://youtu.be/Q30d7q1Af-c
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