SA police union question validity of execution video
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) on Friday questioned the validity of a video showing police allegedly “executing” a reported criminal during a robbery in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg.
The union’s president Sizamele Cebekhulu said the video was made available days after the incident had happened.
“The robbery happened on 19 October and the video was made available days after the incident. I am worried about the validity of the video and whoever it belongs to. This will be addressed by our lawyers in court,” Cebekhulu told journalists at a briefing in Johannesburg.
Four Krugersdorp police officers were arrested after the Sunday Times published a story in which alleged criminal, Khulekani Mpanza, was shot and killed by officers. CCTV footage showed a wounded Mpanza allegedly being executed on a street in Krugersdorp by the officers.
Mpanza had allegedly robbed a store and upon making his escape, reportedly fired a number of shots at officers in a police vehicle.
He was then reportedly chased, shot and wounded, at which point he is believed to have fallen to the ground, dropping his weapon in the process.
An officer could be seen in the CCTV footage kicking Mpanza before another policeman allegedly approached Mpanza and fired a fatal shot.
Only one of the four officers was granted bail this week.
Cebekhulu said Mpanza had fired eight shots at the officers and would not put his firearm down when asked to do so by police. The officers acted within their right to defend themselves, he said.
“Police are being targeted, there are people in our communities who are hell bent on killing our officers. We say officers should not die with guns in their hands, they must defend themselves against these ruthless criminals.”
He further condemned the suspension of the Krugersdorp police station commander by acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane following the incident.
“This speaks of poor leadership by management. We call on the police to come up with a plan to stop police killings. They cannot continue to tell us to pray, we need a solid plan.”
Cebekhulu said his union’s national executive committee would meet next week and come up with a programme to stop the killing of officers. – African News Agency (ANA).