Man shot dead as Tshwane metro cops disperse community members
The TMPD said after the crowd of community members were dispersed, one man was found lying unresponsive on the ground.
PRETORIA, April 14 (ANA) – A man died in Pretoria on Tuesday night after being shot as Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officers moved in to disperse community members who were reconnecting electricity just hours after the police had cut off illegal connections.
“On Tuesday, 13 April 2021, TMPD members had a joint operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the electricity department regarding an illegal electricity connection at Leeufontein near Baviaanspoort,” said TMPD spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said on Wednesday.
He said the joint operation “was a success” as the police removed illegally connected cables with an estimated value of R800,000 (about US$55,500) with their illegally connected transformers.
“Later that day at around 10pm, the TMPD received a complaint about community members who were busy with illegal reconnections in the same area. A vehicle was dispatched to investigate. On arrival, the TMPD members found that the complaint was positive and that community members were busy with reconnections,” said Mahamba.
“The crowd became unruly when they saw the officers and the TMPD members had to call for back-up. When the back-up arrived, the crowd became more aggressive and threw stones at the TMPD members and their vehicles.”
He said the police officers then tried to disperse the crowd by firing rubber bullets.
“The crowd ran in different directions. When the crowd was cleared, one community member was lying unresponsive on the ground. It was discovered that he had been hit with a rubber bullet and unfortunately died instantly,” said Mahamba.
“The TMPD is investigating the case internally. A case of murder was also opened and is being investigated by the SAPS and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.”
On behalf of the TMPD, Mahamba sent condolences to the family of the deceased, whose name has been withheld to ensure that his family has been properly informed.
– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher