A man was shot dead and three others injured when police allegedly fired at an angry crowd who voiced their frustration with bribery.
This tragedy unfolded in Vosman Hlanikahle Extension 1 on Sunday, September 20.
On Monday, September 21 community members went to Vosman Police Station to enquire about a policeman, who is accused of shooting the 28-year-old Isaac Tebele.
Sydwell Khumalo, Criselda Mathabela and Agnes Mkwayi are protesting outside Vosman Police Station following a shooting wherein one man was shot dead and three others wounded on Sunday, September 20.
Tempers again flared up when one of the policemen was seen leaving the police station in full uniform, only minutes after the station commander, Brigadier Makhosazana Kheswa, assured a delegation chosen by the community that the policeman was not at work.
“The station commander blatantly lied in our faces. We were told the officers were suspended with immediate effect,” Mr Aubrey Mtsweni, from the ANC Youth League said.
“When we took the matter up, the police chased us out of the gates firing rubber bullets,” Mtsweni said.
Word from the protesters about the killing of Isaac HERE:
Residents then took to the streets to barricade nearby road with rocks.
Mtsweni described the incident that led to Tebele’s death and the hospitalisation of three other men.
He said it started when policemen searched spaza shops in the area and arrested three men believed to be foreigners.
“Two were from Bangladesh and the other is a South African,” Mtsweni said.
He said rage erupted when one of the policemen were heard allegedly asking one of the foreign nationals for R50 in exchange for his ‘freedom’.
The crowd quickly grew bigger and tempers flared. The back of the police van was opened by the community and the three suspects were let out.
The policemen ran after the suspects, but they were stopped by the angry crowd, who by then closed off the road.
Mtsweni said when the community questioned the policeman he left, but returned shortly afterwards with back-up.
Rubber bullets were fired at a delegation of community members who spoke to Vosman Police Station Commander Brigadier Makhosazana Kheswa.
“The next moment shots were fired,” Mtsweni said.
In a video taken by one of the community members, one can clearly hear the community asking what the police were doing there.
Watch the video HERE:
“What type of backup are they bringing when they don’t sort out the problem?” can be heard. The next moment people are seen scattering as the sound of shots cut through the air.
“They shot Isaac! They shot him! Call the ambulance they shot him,” cries are heard.
As the police vans sped away Tebele is left alone in the dirt road.
The community took him to a nearby clinic where he later died.
Tebele’s brother, Mr Solly Tebele, said this is a huge shock for the family.
“My brother heard a noise and had gone outside to check where the noise was coming from when he was shot,” Mr Tebele said.
He said he is humbled by the visit of the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and other councillors who offered condolences to the family.
Tebele said his cousin, Mr Jonathan Pourle, was also wounded during the shooting. He was discharged from Witbank Hospital on Tuesday morning.
One of the other victims, Mr Thami Thobela refused hospital treatment and was sent home and Mr Tebogo Segole was discharged the same day after assessment by casualty
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating the matter.
Ms Grace Langa, spokesperson for Ipid said the investigating officer met with witnesses on Tuesday, September 22.
“The policemen accused of the shooting are still at work,” said Colonel Leonard Hlathi, provincial police spokesperson.
“We are compiling a report to the provincial commissioner, Commissioner Lieutenant General Mark Dumisa Magadlela, from which he will decide if the members acted negligently or not. On that basis he will then assign an investigator to probe into the matter,” Col Hlathi said.
