The Independent Police Investigation Directorate (Ipid) is investigating a case of murder after a student was shot and killed, allegedly by a police officer, in Mount Fletcher at the weekend.
According to witnesses, Mawande Mvoko, 25, a final-year Walter Sisulu University student, was shot in the back as he was running away from the police. The bullets hit him in his back and he died on the spot.
Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed the incident. “I can confirm that the Ipid is investigating this matter.”
It is alleged that police had information that the deceased was in possession of a firearm and a sword. As the police were following up on the information, the deceased ran to a house where it is alleged he assaulted another person and was then shot by a member of the SAPS, said Dlamini.
The incident happened at Paballong village on Sunday morning. “Those were shots to kill him, not warning shots.
“They shot him in the back as he was running away from them,” Mvoko’s relative, Zwelinzima Nunu, who was first on the scene said.
Mvoko was at home at the time a group of four police officers arrived unannounced and allegedly started assaulting him.
Relatives said he managed to free himself and ran to a neighbour’s house, where there was a vigil for a funeral.
He hid in the tent with mourners and the unmarked police vehicle was seen driving away.
As he and a friend, whom he had earlier called to fetch him, stepped out of the tent, a police officer, who was apparently hiding in the dark, confronted them and pointed a firearm at Mvoko.
“When he started to run back to the tent, it was too late, he was shot twice and fell,” said a relative Vusumzi Dumezweni. — bonganif@ dispatch.co.za
Ipid to probe fatal shooting of student
According to witnesses, Mawande Mvoko, 25, a final-year Walter Sisulu University student, was shot in the back as he was running away from the police. The bullets hit him in his back and he died on the spot.
Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed the incident. “I can confirm that the Ipid is investigating this matter.”
It is alleged that police had information that the deceased was in possession of a firearm and a sword. As the police were following up on the information, the deceased ran to a house where it is alleged he assaulted another person and was then shot by a member of the SAPS, said Dlamini.
The incident happened at Paballong village on Sunday morning. “Those were shots to kill him, not warning shots.
“They shot him in the back as he was running away from them,” Mvoko’s relative, Zwelinzima Nunu, who was first on the scene said.
Mvoko was at home at the time a group of four police officers arrived unannounced and allegedly started assaulting him.
Relatives said he managed to free himself and ran to a neighbour’s house, where there was a vigil for a funeral.
He hid in the tent with mourners and the unmarked police vehicle was seen driving away.
As he and a friend, whom he had earlier called to fetch him, stepped out of the tent, a police officer, who was apparently hiding in the dark, confronted them and pointed a firearm at Mvoko.
“When he started to run back to the tent, it was too late, he was shot twice and fell,” said a relative Vusumzi Dumezweni. — bonganif@ dispatch.co.za
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