A Fort Beaufort police constable was yesterday arrested for discharging a firearm and wounding a matric pupil.
The arrest by Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) officers follows a shooting incident on Monday night in Mlalandle village, 5km outside Fort Beaufort.
The shooting of Siyamthanda Nkatsha, 20, occurred on the eve of his final exam paper.
His family said he was trying to help police with their investigation when the officer shot at him with an R5 rifle, hitting him in the leg and hip.
Nkatsha collapsed in pain.
His friends ran away, fearing for their safety.
His cousin, Nomafa Nkatsha, said the incident occurred after 9pm as Nkatsha and two friends were walking in a village street.
“Police received a call from a woman in the village saying there was a trespasser in her home. When they arrived on the scene Siyamthanda approached the van to show them the direction in which the trespasser had fled. This is when he was shot,” Nkatsha said.
Eastern Cape police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said there were two police officers on the scene. They tried to call an ambulance to take the wounded man to hospital.
Tonjeni said a case of attempted murder was opened for investigation.
Nkatsha’s family said while the shooting took place shortly after 9pm, Ipid were only contacted after 1am when the family threatened the station commander with exposure in the media.
Ipid spokesman Robbie Raburabu confirmed this and added the police officer had been arrested.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said yesterday Nkatsha was admitted to Frere hospital in East London with a gunshot wound, adding that he was scheduled for surgery in the morning and would be discharged later today.