Cops
go on Wild West shooting spree
“I was doing my laundry when I suddenly heard gunshots, but could not see
who was firing. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the St Chad’s clinic
with a gunshot wound to my back”
Sipho Zama | 11 March 2014
The woman who was shot by
police on Sunday morning.
Police officers have been accused of using excessive force after a Wild
West type shoot-out early on Sunday morning. The shooting took place as police
surrounded the house of suspected cop killers.
It all began when a constable attached to the Ladysmith Tactical
Response Team (TRT) was shot dead on Saturday night.
30-year-old TRT officer Constable Sifiso Sithembiso Yende was at home in
Ezakheni B-Section at about 9pm when he evidently heard cries for help coming
from a neighbour’s house. He rushed to their assistance and was subsequently
shot and killed by three armed suspects.
His state firearm was stolen during the incident.
Following up on information about the killers, police approached a house
in the Emcitsheni area of Ezakheni early on Sunday morning. As they moved to
encircle the house, shots were fired at them. Police fired back and the
suspects fled.
Two bystanders were slightly injured during the shooting. At this stage,
it is not clear whether the bullets that grazed them were fired by the suspects
or SAPS. Police have opened cases of murder and attempted murder.
A woman who was caught in the crossfire on Sunday morning says she saw
the whole incident from the start.
“I was doing my laundry when I suddenly heard gunshots, but could not
see who was firing. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in the St Chad’s
clinic with a gunshot wound to my back. The strange thing was that the nurses
at the clinic told me there was no bullet in the wound,” explains the woman.
The Gazette has received information that DA MP Alf Lees has filled out
a complaint of police brutality with the Independent Police Investigations
Department after speaking to Ezakheni community members.
Community members say that the police officers who came to investigate
the murder of the TRT officer were not worried about the safety of the public.
Instead, they went on a shooting spree and then removed the bullets from the
people they had shot.
Another witness, Sbusiso Mabaso (who was shot in the arm), said he was
taking a bath on Sunday morning when he suddenly heard shooting, “After being
shot, they dragged me along the floor with no clothes on, searching around my
body. They must have been looking for bullets to remove from my wounds,”
explains the man.
NFP councillor Buthelezi says he couldn’t believe what the police had
done, and that it was totally unacceptable.
Update: MEC Mchunu strongly condemns acts of violence against the
police. “We find the increasing number of attacks on policemen very disturbing
and totally unacceptable. The job of police officers is to provide safety and a
secured environment for citizens of the country. As such, they should be
treated with respect and admiration. These are men and women who have sacrificed
their lives to serve the community to the best of their ability. Therefore, we
condemn any attack directed at them. In fact, members of the community should
work with the police to isolate criminals and protect police from these
criminals,” said MEC Mchunu.
http://ladysmithgazette.co.za/15518/12shooting01-2/
