The family of a man who was shot and killed on Saturday, 5 August, allegedly by a Durban Metro Police officer is calling on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to prioritise the case and to bring his alleged killer to book.
Sanele Thembani, 24, from Waterloo and his friends were traveling on the M4 when a Metro Police officer allegedly opened fire on them while they were making a u-turn. According to his sister Ntokozo Thembani, her brother and his friends were traveling back home after attending a party at Blue Lagoon beach.
“They drove from Durban and joined the M4 highway. We were told by his friends that the driver saw that the highway was highly congested and decided to make a u-turn. There were Metro Police officers who had parked along the freeway who noticed this and opened fire on them. One bullet hit Sanele on his head and he died instantly,” said Thembani.
Sanele was seated at the back of the vehicle when the incident took place. The Tongaat and Verulam Tabloid established that Metro Police were manning a roadblock on the M4 when the alleged shooting happened.
Following accusations on social media that the group was fleeing from the police roadblock when the incident took place, Thembani refuted the allegations. She said: “There was heavy congestion on the M4. The driver turned to join an alternative route to avoid traffic. They were not running away from the police.
She called on IPID to probe the matter to the fullest. “Metro Police killed my brother. There is no one that is above the law and we therefore call on IPID to launch a special investigation and arrest the perpetrators. This incident must be used as an example that poor people can get justice despite their economic circumstances. The prosecution of the Metro Police will restore hope to communities who have already lost trust in the police,” said Thembani.
The incident has been met with widespread anger among community members who have called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter. On Facebook, Waterloo residents described Sanele as a “down to earth person who was always cheerful and smiling”.
At his funeral service, held over the weekend, his friends and family members called for the suspension of the police officer implicated in the murder. IPID spokesperson, Robbie Raburabu said: “IPID is investigating a case of murder against members of the Durban Metropolitan Department. The investigation is still ongoing at this stage.”
