The family of a Pretoria man, who was shot in the head by a police officer after he forcefully took a gun from another officer during an altercation, has opened a case of attempted murder against the police on Tuesday.
Len Cloete is in a coma after he was shot by a police officer after he snatched a gun from another officer during an altercation at Misty Hill Country Hotel in Muldersdrift in the early hours of Saturday.
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Cecil Benade, an investigator for Specialized Security Services, the private investigation company appointed by the family, said Cloete’s family opened a case of attempted murder against the police on Tuesday morning at the Muldersdrift police station.
“As it is known that the police opened a case against Mr Len and now the family is at the station to open a case against the SAPS,” he said.
“The case they have opened currently is that of attempted murder because he [Len Cloete] is still alive.”
Benade said the station where the family opened the case was in the same precinct as that of the officers involved in Cloete’s shooting. He said the attempted murder case would be taken over by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for a full investigation.
“The three people, the wife and the other couple that were present on the night of the incident filed their statements today [Tuesday] and that will be taken over by Ipid for further investigations.”
Ipid spokesperson Grace Langa said by Tuesday morning they had not yet received the case opened by Cloete’s family against the police; but when they would receive it, it would form part of their investigations into the matter.
“If the family opened the case it will still come to us [Ipid] and it will form part of the investigation we are currently undertaking.”
She said currently the police were investigating a case of discharge of an official firearm which led to Cloete’s shooting.
While Cloete was reported to be stable in hospital should he succumb to his injuries, Langa said the investigation would change to death as a result of police action.
“Currently, in that incident, there are about four officers that were on scene. The investigation will tell us whether they were right or wrong in their actions, but now it is still early stages of the probe.”
While the family of Cloete opened a case against the police, the police also opened a case against him.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said Cloete faced charges of robbery, assault and malicious damage to property after he allegedly caused chaos at the hotel.
“According to the report, the police were called after Cloete had an altercation with staff members.
“He [Cloete] allegedly insulted the police and assaulted two of them with fists before drawing his firearm which could not cock.
“He then forcefully grabbed the firearm from the officer’s holster. He was shot by another officer before he could use the firearm he grabbed. He is currently in hospital and police investigation continues,” Sello said.
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