The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is investigating an off-duty cop who allegedly shot and killed a 12-year-old child in Brown’s Farm Philippi on Friday.
According to the local CPF spokesperson Ntlantla Nkanteni, the boy was washing a car when a cop, chasing a suspect who had tried to hijack him, started opening fire.
Ntlantla Nkanteni said: “The suspect was running towards the child, the child started running too and was struck in the head.”
The boy died on the way to the hospital.
Nkanteni says they want police to explain to the child’s family what happened: “The police cannot shoot recklessly when a person is running in a crowd. We also heard that the officers are trying to protect the officer behind the shooting.”
The boy’s family on Tuesday declined to comment, only saying that they want the officer responsible to be held accountable.
IPID spokesperson Ndilela Cola confirms an investigation is under way: “The matter was first reported to IPID as police discharge of a firearm with no injuries but it has been subsequently changed to death as a result of police action.”
According to Cola, the cop was driving in Ramaphosa informal settlement when he was approached by “four unknown gun-wielding African males” who started shooting at him.
As the cop returned fire, the suspects fled.
“Later it emerged that one of the suspects succumbed to his wounds at Mitchells Plain Day Hospital,” says Cola.
It is understood the person was actually the boy.