The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has arrested a police officer in the Western Cape on murder charges.
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The officer is also charged with ammunition possession and assault.
Speaking to IOL, Phaladi Shuping, an Ipid spokesperson, the officer was arrested following an incident on 26 December.
‘It is alleged on Tuesday, at around 3am, four people, two males, and two females, were walking on the R44 road in Somerset West when a police van stopped next to them and the police officers demanded to search,’ Shuping said.
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The group complied with the officers’ request, and after being searched, they were told to return home right away. However, the group explained that they were on their way to the Total petrol station to purchase electricity.
According to Shuping, the officers refused to listen to the group and were adamant that they needed to buy electricity.
Things quickly became heated.
‘One of the police officers allegedly took out his firearm and fired at them and one of them [group] was fatally wounded.
‘A police officer who allegedly fired a shot was arrested by Ipid and he will appear in the local magistrates court facing charges of murder, illegal possession of ammunition, and assault,’ Shuping said.
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Picture: South African Police Service / Facebook