Ipid probing Social Development MEC shooting
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the shooting of three people during an attempted robbery targeting the Western Cape Social Development MEC, Albert Freitz.
One robber was shot dead and another injured after Freitz's security officials opened fire on the pair. The exchange of gunfire also left a bystander injured.
Freitz was invited to be a guest speaker at a youth event in Nyanga on Saturday morning.
According to Freitz, the venue of the youth event he was suppose to speak at changed and en route to the new venue, a robber approached his car window asking for everyone's cellphones.
“A person came to my window and pulled a gun saying 'bring your bloody phones' and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed. Otherwise my protector was going to be killed,” Fritz says.
The MEC says his bodyguard quickly reacted by giving his phone away to distract the robber so that he could take out his gun.
Freitz says: ‘'When the the robber ran to grab the phone, my bodyguard started shooting and so did the robber who's gun was still jamming but with some shots still being fired.”
This led to the robber's death.
The other one accomplice who attempted to flee with the MEC's spokesperson and bodyguards' phones was injured during the shoot-out.
Freitz says after the horrific ordeal, him and his staff were escorted to the local police station in Nyanga.
The MEC says the ordeal opened up his eyes to the issues young people face in the township.
“As any government, specifically in social development, we cannot allow young people to continue with the route of criminality.
''We need to make sure the youth join some of our positive programmes that focus on their development.
''So that experience brought a new resolve for me to do far more than what we are doing; to focus on youth development; to make sure other young people don't die in vain for cellphones and to really help the youth find something that is inspirational and positive to bring to the community.''
Meanwhile, Ipid spokesperson, Moses Dlamini says the matter is being investigated.
"Ipid legislation requires that any shooting by a police officer or a discharge of a police firearm be reported to them".
Dlamini says two dockets of attempted murder have been opened.