‘How can
police just shoot at innocent people?’
15
March 2016, 07:36am
Siyabonga
Kalipa
160314. Cape Town. Severely traumatised people
walk across the parking area of Mcdonalds in Kuilsriver following a shooting
incident in BLue Downs this morning. Police accidentally killed two innocent
people during a shooting. Two people who works at a fast food chain store were
killed in a taxi on Hindle Road after police mistaken the taxi they were
traveling in for that of a taxi robbers were traveling in. Picture henk kruger
Cape Town - The Independent Police Investigative Directorate
(Ipid) is investigating yet another case in which police are alleged to have
shot and killed two innocent people.
The latest shooting happened on Monday morning when a taxi
transporting McDonald’s staff was reportedly shot at by police.
It’s the second such incident in which police officers were
allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of innocent people in three weeks.
Last month, it is believed police shot and killed a Nando’s staff member,
wounding another who were on their way home from work.
The brother of one of the victims of Monday’s incident in Kuils
River said he was shocked by the police’s behaviour.
Xolani Skota, brother of Noxolo Skota who was shot and killed in
the incident, said: “I don’t understand how police can just shoot at innocent
people without warning. I am deeply hurt by this.”
He said his sister was saving to study graphic design.
“I spoke to her on Friday and I was supposed to visit her with
my children. I will miss her.”
Ipid spokesman Robbie Raburabu said the police were allegedly
following up on a robbery at a Caltex filling station in Kuils River.
“It is alleged that in pursuing a Quantum (minibus taxi in)
which (there were occupants who) had committed a robbery, the occupants shot at
the police and the police returned fire; another Quantum which is alleged to
have been transporting staff of McDonald’s on their way home after their shift
got in the way of the police, which made the police think that the two vehicles
were together and then the McDonald’s staff were caught in the crossfire,
resulting in two of the occupants being killed.
“Two of the alleged robbers were also killed in the other
vehicle,” he said.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut said a robbery
had taken place in the early hours of Monday morning at a petrol filling
station in Kuils River.
He said two subsequent incidents occurred in which “four people
were killed and three were injured”.
“These incidents are now subject to an Ipid investigation and
this office will not be elaborating on the details at this stage.”
Raburabu said: “The investigation into the circumstances
surrounding the deaths is continuing, and in the Nando’s case our investigation
is completed except that the other witnesses’ statements are still
outstanding.”
Ipid refused to comment on whether the officers allegedly
involved in last month’s shooting were still on duty, or whether they had been
suspended.
Emergency Medical Services spokesman Robert Daniels said three
men and one adult female were killed in the Mfuleni area on Monday morning.
Three of the injured people had been discharged, while the
other three remained in a stable condition, he said.
McDonald’s SA issued a statement on Monday confirming the
transport vehicle that members of its Kuils River crew had been travelling in,
was shot at.
The chief executive of McDonald’s South Africa, Greg
Solomon, said: “We are shocked, horrified and deeply saddened at the death of
two of our valued employees and the injuries sustained by five others.”
Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said he was “deeply
concerned” about the incident.
“The details of the incident are concerning and I trust the Ipid
are already busy with a thorough investigation.
“I am deeply concerned about what appears to be excessive use of
force by the police where civilians are involved,” he said.
siyabonga.kalipa@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
