Man dies after shootout with Westenburg police
IPID has launched an investigation to ascertain police acted within the law when they shot at the suspect.
POLOKWANE – A 37-year-old man from Lethuli Park has died after he was reportedly involved in a shootout with police on Friday (February 11).
An investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has now been launched in accordance with Section 28.1(b), as the man’s death is as a result of police action.
Ipid spokesperson Grace Langa told Review they have a responsibility to establish whether the police officials acted within the law when they “shot and killed the man”.
“Our investigation is as a result of the men shooting at the police and that the police then retaliated,” she added.
Langa explained that around 09:00 on Friday, Westenburg detectives were informed about two occupants in a sedan who were on their way to Lethuli Park to buy firearm ammunition.
“The men drove off at a high speed when they saw the police, and police gave chase. The passenger started shooting at the police during the chase and they retaliated,” she said and added that the man continued shooting at the police when the vehicle stopped.
According to Langa, the man ran into the bushes between Mahlasedi Park and Lethuli Park outside Polokwane.
“The police searched for the man with no success. They confiscated the vehicle and the driver was taken to the station for questioning. The following day, police were informed that a resident found the body of the man who fled the scene. No firearm was found in his possession and a case of murder was opened for further investigation,” she said and added a post mortem is yet to be conducted.
