King William’s Town police shot a man dead in a small village nearby on Saturday morning.
Melikhaya Kenene’s body was left unattended, covered by a neighbour’s blanket, for more than five hours in Masingatha village.
Kenene, a father of two in his late 20s, was shot at about 10am.
Police had been trying to leave the village at the time with three men they had arrested in connection with a murder, said provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci.
“Earlier, police had been called to the scene in Masingatha where a 35-year-old man was allegedly being assaulted by community members involved in house-breakings and robberies in the area,” she explained.
“It is alleged that his brother took him to the community members to be interviewed and the community assaulted him. He was taken to hospital and later died.
“A case of murder was then opened at Zwelitsha SAPS.”
Soci said police had received information and followed it up, leading to the arrests of three men aged between 29 and 33.
“As the police were leaving the village some 100 community members prevented the police as they did not want police to arrest the suspects.
“They demanded that all of them should be arrested,” Soci said, adding that the residents then blockaded the road and barred police from leaving the community.
“They threw stones at the police vehicles and police fired warning shots to disperse them. One community member was allegedly hit by a bullet and died on the scene,” Soci said.
She said the police watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), was informed about the incident.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived a group of about 50 residents were gathered near the covered body.
At least three residents, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said crime was not being policed in their village.
They said the man who died after the assault had been in and out of jail numerous times.
“We took a stand last week that all the break-ins and muggings will stop, and we introduced a community patrol group involving all the men in the community.
“So when we got information on who was behind the crimes we took a decision that we were going to teach him a lesson,” said one resident.
The arrested men will appear in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court soon.
New death as cops probe killing
Melikhaya Kenene’s body was left unattended, covered by a neighbour’s blanket, for more than five hours in Masingatha village.
Kenene, a father of two in his late 20s, was shot at about 10am.
Police had been trying to leave the village at the time with three men they had arrested in connection with a murder, said provincial police spokeswoman Colonel Sibongile Soci.
“Earlier, police had been called to the scene in Masingatha where a 35-year-old man was allegedly being assaulted by community members involved in house-breakings and robberies in the area,” she explained.
“It is alleged that his brother took him to the community members to be interviewed and the community assaulted him. He was taken to hospital and later died.
“A case of murder was then opened at Zwelitsha SAPS.”
Soci said police had received information and followed it up, leading to the arrests of three men aged between 29 and 33.
“As the police were leaving the village some 100 community members prevented the police as they did not want police to arrest the suspects.
“They demanded that all of them should be arrested,” Soci said, adding that the residents then blockaded the road and barred police from leaving the community.
“They threw stones at the police vehicles and police fired warning shots to disperse them. One community member was allegedly hit by a bullet and died on the scene,” Soci said.
She said the police watchdog body, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), was informed about the incident.
When the Daily Dispatch arrived a group of about 50 residents were gathered near the covered body.
At least three residents, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said crime was not being policed in their village.
They said the man who died after the assault had been in and out of jail numerous times.
“We took a stand last week that all the break-ins and muggings will stop, and we introduced a community patrol group involving all the men in the community.
“So when we got information on who was behind the crimes we took a decision that we were going to teach him a lesson,” said one resident.
The arrested men will appear in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court soon.
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