A police constable was denied bail when he appeared in the Tembisa Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly shooting and killing a three-year-old, the Independent Complaints Directorate said.
Constable SS Malaka was arrested on Saturday after the child was shot as members of the South African Police Service were tracing suspects in a murder and attempted murder case, ICD spokesperson Moses Dlamini said in a statement.
"The ICD deplores the shooting of innocent victims and encourages the police to be more circumspect and more cautious to avoid such preventable deaths," Dlamini said.
Malaka and a colleague went to an address in Klipfontein View after receiving information on the case. They found a white Hyundai parked outside.
Continues Below ↓
As they approached the car, which was occupied by a driver, a passenger and a three-year-old child in the back, Malaka allegedly saw a "pipe" pointed at the officers.
"The two members approached the car and the one member, Constable SS Malaka, then allegedly saw a pipe pointed at him from the car and he thought it was a firearm and he fired in the direction of the pipe.
"The three-year-old boy was hit in the chest and he passed away," Dlamini said.
No pipe or firearm was recovered from the car.
Malaka's case was postponed to November 18. - Sapa
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
