YEAH RIGHT!
Farmer ‘mistakenly’ shot at by soldiers
April 24 2015 at 02:33pm
By Gabi Falanga
Musina - Limpopo farmer Peter Nicholson had his tyres punctured and was
shot at by a group of army officers near Musina, in what they allegedly claimed
was a case of mistaken identity.
At about 8.45pm on Monday, Nicholson was driving on the R525 near Musina
to investigate shots he had heard being fired.
“The next moment there was a set of spikes pulled across the road,” he
told The Star.
“I couldn’t avoid the spikes, so I drove over them, and that flattened
all the tyres of the vehicle.”
As his tyres burst, Nicholson was shot at.
He managed to drive to a neighbour, where he called the police.
Limpopo police spokeswoman Colonel Ronel Otto confirmed the incident and
said one person had been arrested for attempted murder.
A case of malicious damage to property had also been opened.
“We are working with the SANDF to investigate the full circumstances
surrounding the incident. The possibility of more arrests is not excluded,” she
said.
Nicholson said the Musina police had responded to his call within five
minutes.
“Military personnel were found on the scene with their rifles, with the
equipment with which they punctured the tyres and the empty shells,” he said.
“These people then said they were so sorry, it was a (case of) mistaken
identity. I was shot at on a national public road (in a case of) mistaken
identity.
“Nobody was injured… but I don’t know what would have happened if I had
stopped,” Nicholson said.
SANDF spokesman Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga confirmed the incident
and said it was being investigated.
“His weapon was confiscated and will form part of the SAPS
investigation. The SANDF has convened a board of inquiry,” he said.
Mabanga did not answer The Star’s question on whether the officers were
acting under military instruction.
gabi.falanga@inl.co.za
The Star
