Station commander to be suspended after 'execution' of suspect
The Krugersdorp police station commander has been served with a notice of suspension following the alleged execution of a suspected armed robber last month by members from that police station, MPs heard on Wednesday.
Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on police, acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane said the initial lack of action against the four officers implicated in the incident was concerning.
“The intended suspension of the station commander is informed by the fact that he or she would have received the information much earlier before we saw it in the newspapers,” Phahlane said.
“After having access to the video…nothing was done.”
A video of the incident was featured on Youtube, and stills of the footage was published in the Sunday Times, which has drawn outrage from the public.
Phahlane said while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) was doing the criminal investigation, disciplinary action would be taken by the SA Police service.
“In this case, the provincial commissioner issued notices of suspension with the provision that we must get responses within 48 hours, following which the suspension would then be activated,” said Phahlane.
The notices of suspension was served on the four officers on Monday, and on the station commander on Tuesday.
“What features in the Sunday Times remains unfortunate that we could have such an act committed by our members. It is against the spirit of the Constitution and goes against everything that the law prescribes,” said Phahlane.
IPID officials informed MPs that their investigation was completed.
The four officers appeared in court on Tuesday.
Constable Dipuo Chipu – who was charged with defeating the ends of justice – was granted bail of R5,000.
Her four colleagues – Titus Mabela, Jason Segole, and Puleng Sebetwa – each face an additional charge of murder. They would remain in custody until November 10 when they were scheduled to apply for bail.
Suspected armed robber Khulekani Mpanza was shot dead on October 19.
Mpanza had allegedly robbed a store and fired a number of shots at officers in a police vehicle who were pursuing him.
Police caught up with him. The video footage shows Mpanza falling to the ground after being shot and wounded.
An officer could then be seen kicking the suspect before another policeman approached and allegedly fired the fatal shot while Mpanza lay on the ground unarmed. - ANA