Police watchdog, Ipid, steps in to probe fatal shoot-out in Eastern Cape

Police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is set to investigate a shooting in the Eastern Cape where three suspects were fatally wounded following a shoot-out with police.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, said on Monday, February 10, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Intervention Unit (NIU) were travelling from the Magwalane Village through the Indwe central business district when they spotted a white Toyota Etios parked in front of a church on Voortrekker Street.

"As police approached the stationary vehicle and identified themselves, one of the occupants allegedly opened fire. The members responded, resulting in a shootout that left all three suspects fatally wounded," Mawisa said.

She said police recovered two unlicensed guns with ammunition. The suspects' vehicle was also seized.

"Police have opened an inquest docket, and the matter has been referred to the Ipid for further investigation," Mawisa said.

Meanwhile, in December last year, the Democratic Alliance (DA) called for police officers to be fitted with body cameras, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal after it was revealed that on average, police killed nine suspects each month between July 2023 and July 2024.

The party's Mzamo Billy said KZN consistently features as the province with the highest number of killings as a result of police action.

He said between 2022/23, the Ipid reported that 108 suspects were killed by SAPS in KZN. This while South Africa as a whole recorded 364 deaths.

Billy said while it is common knowledge that suspected criminals in KZN province do not spare the police, the high number killed remains a cause for concern.

"Deadly force by SAPS should not be regarded as an acceptable way of confronting KZN’s escalating crime levels. Instead, stakeholders should tread carefully as it may impact public trust in law enforcement and the criminal justice system," he said. 

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron agreed with the call. 

He added that body cameras could prove central in reducing the many civil claims against the SAPS.

"As evidenced in many countries across the world, body cameras are an effective way to ensure police accountability as those recordings can be used as documentable evidence that could be used to prove right or wrong the perception that police are committing extra judicial killings," he said. 

He said there is an assumption that police go out to kill suspects. This claim is asserted as there is a lack of empirical evidence. Cameron said body cameras would also ensure accountability. 

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

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