Armed Zim man gunned down by South African police

A 34-year-old Zimbabwean man was on Friday shot and killed by South African police in the Erasmia area.

The man is reported to have been part of a gang of suspects, aged between 26 and 51 years, who were caught red-handed by the police cutting steel pipes at a plot in Mooiplas.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, Ms Grace Langa said the matter was now under investigation.

However, she could not readily reveal the now deceased’s identity.

“We are investigating a case of death as a result of police action and our team have already attended the crime scene,” said Ms Langa.

“It is alleged that two on-duty police officers reacted to a complaint about some suspects who were cutting steel pipes at the plot in Mooiplas. Upon arrival, they found the complainant who then pointed out the suspects.”

The four suspects were apprehended.

More suspects, driving an Isuzu pick-up truck, arrived at the scene and were also identified as being part of the crew by the complainant.

She said the two policemen stopped the car and ordered all the passengers to disembark and lie on the ground.

“They all went down except one suspect who is a 34-year-old Zimbabwean national. He walked towards the back of their bakkie (pick-up truck) and pulled a firearm.

“He was spotted by one of the policemen who immediately pulled out his service pistol and shot him (the suspect Zimbabwean national) on the head,” said Ms Langa.

She said while the two police officers were busy checking on the man who had been shot, his accomplices got into the vehicle ad fled from the scene.

Paramedics, she added, were contacted and certified the man dead on the scene.

Ms Langa said investigators from IPID collected the Police officer’s state firearm as well as the deceased’s unlicensed firearm after being summoned to the scene.

“Further investigations into the matter are underway,” she said.

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