The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating a shooting incident involving a local policeman.
Mr Sontaga Seisa, acting national spokesperson for IPID said their investigation into the shooting incident on Saturday, February 29 kicked off early this week.
This follows a confluence of circumstances that started with the kidnapping of 57-year-old Ms Gita Samgi’s in Nelspruit in October last year and the fatal shooting of a man believed to have driven without a license this past weekend.
Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi from the Hawks confirmed that it was Samgi’s body that was found at the Merriedale turn-off in Tasbet Park on Friday, February 28.
She was wrapped in white sheets.
According to police reports Samgi was kidnapped outside the residential estate where she lived.
It is believed that she left her home in the afternoon and went to a shopping centre and when she failed to pick up her child from school, alarm bells went off.
Her husband registered a missing person’s case at Nelspruit Police Station.
Her car was later found at Caim on the outskirts of Nelspruit.
The kidnappers were in contact with the family soon afterwards and demanded money.
In December 2019 Samgi’s family paid money to the kidnappers.
Even after the money was paid, Samgi was not released and the kidnappers demanded more money.
On February 28 police received information that Samgi was released in eMalahleni and a look-out for the vehicle was called in and the search for Samgi was conducted.
Local police kept an eye on the N12 and noticed a Toyota coming their way.
The driver of the Toyota made a u-turn and drove into bushes at a vlei in Duvha Park.
The police chased after them and caught up with the men in the car.
According to the police report one of the men in the Toyota took out something that looked like a firearm and started shooting, the police returned fire.
During this shootout a man was shot dead and one wounded.
Mr Emmanuel Themba Salinga said he is heartbroken after his son’s untimely death.
He said 18-year-old Sibusiso Salinga took his grandmother’s car’s spare keys and picked up friends after she left for a church function in Middelburg.
“Sibusiso collected two friends in Phola and only came back later that afternoon. He then picked up another friend and took him to Ga-Nala. When he and his two friends came back to eMalahleni, he saw a roadblock and realised he is in trouble because he does not have a license and he took the car without permission,” Salinga said.
Salinga said his son was afraid and realised he made a mistake.
He sped away and the police went after him.
“The police shot my son in the back and also wounded his friend.”
Salinga’s anger towards the police grew when they refused him the opportunity to see his son in the mortuary.
“God only knows what happened. I do not have the answers,” Salinga said.
The policeman has not been arrested.
The outcome of this case rests on the investigation done by IPID.
Samgi’s family did not want to respond to the media and asked that their privacy be respected.
IPID investigates shooting incident in eMalahleni involving local cop
