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Thato Mokoka. Photo: Supplied
Neighbours had told the police he was carrying an unlicensed gun. But when Dobsonville police officers raided his house and found nothing on 16-year-old Thato Mokoka, he was shot – seven times in the head and upper body.
And his family had to watch him die.
When he was shot, Thato was lying on his stomach outside his grandmother’s home in Bramfischerville Phase 2. His arms were in the surrender position above his head.
No unlicensed firearm was found.
The police’s Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating the Grade 9 Kgatelopele Secondary School pupil’s death as a result of police action.
His family can’t believe their child has been killed.
“Just before they shot him as he was lying on the ground, the last thing he told me was ‘Mammie, I don’t know nothing about this. I didn’t do anything’,” said his grandmother Sybil Mokoka.
Then, as she and her daughter looked on, Thato’s brains were scattered across their yard.
“There were many shots. They went off quickly one after each other, like da da da da da da da,” said Sybil.
“It’s so unfair what they did. That they shot him in front of us like that. They must be punished. Not to my baby. It’s so sad. He did not even have an ID yet.”
Thato lived alone in the shack behind his grandmother’s house.
Sybil was in her house with her daughter Mpumi and 10-month-old granddaughter Katlego on Tuesday night when police banged on her front door.
When she opened the door, six officers stormed into her house, pointing firearms in her and her daughter’s faces, demanding to see Thato, she said.
When they couldn’t find Thato in the house, they went to the shack behind her house.
“They kicked down the door and went in shouting ‘Where’s Thato?’, ‘Where’s the gun?” recalled Sybil on Wednesday night.
Thato was inside the shack with two girls at the time.
“They beat him up and then brought him out to lie at the door.”
As Thato lay on the ground, one officer stood on Thato’s neck with his boot and another allegedly went back into the shack to assault the girls who were in the shack.
That is when, according to Sybil, another officer, who had a gun slung over his shoulder, approached Thato.
Two boys and two women, who live near the Mokokas, were with the police.
“He (the officer) said to him, ‘These boys say you have a gun’. Thato denied it. But one boy said Thato’s friend had a gun. Then the other boy said Thato had the gun. The ladies agreed with him. But Thato denied it. Then the police shot him.”
“We picked up seven cartridges outside. We gave them to the police for the forensics.”
Sybil said she had raised Thato and considered him her son. He was not a problem child, and her only concern was that he smoked and like girls.
“He has never been in trouble with the police. No one has ever come here complaining. He did not have a gun. If he did have one, I would have known because I always go into his room.”
But Jabulani police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela denied Sybil’s allegation that several officers had stormed her house, saying there were only two on sector patrol who had attended the house.
The firearm was discharged as the officers were waiting outside the house for back-up to arrive. “The gun was in the officer’s hand and five bullets discharged from it. The boy was hit in the upper body. It is not clear how the gun was discharged.”
Makhubela said the two officers who had initially attended the scene were a warrant officer and a constable.
Independent Complaints Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed they were investigating a case of death as a result of police action.
Thato’s funeral will be held on Sunday. The family is still finalising arrangements. - The Star
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Anonymous, wrote
What a disgrace to the human race..... those police officers that killed an inocent unarmed child, do they think they are heros now, they don't even react like that to hardened career criminals, where is the sence in this, I say they should be held for murder, because that is what it is.
James, wrote
The president should give us his opinion on this matter. And what does the minister of police have to say. We need to see stat on police on civilian viloence.
eiusy, wrote
Once caught they are always so very innocent.
Anonymous, wrote
These fat pigs are too scared to chase after thye real criminals, they lock themselves in police stations out of fear of gangsters and hard core criminals. Teey could have just taken the boy in for questioning. My hear goes out to uGogo, the friends and other family members who had to witness this brutal murder by.
Anonymous, wrote
Mdu you are an idiot, sorry to tell you! U have lost touch with reality, maybe your head needs to be examined cz i can tell from your assessment of this entire situation you hae a reading disability and you are slow!! Let me eduacate you, and plz read slowly!! In terms of the general law regulating the handling of firearms, you cannot point a gun at someone who is unarmed, in fact even withdrawing a gun one would have to have just cause! This very basic principle has been violated here, the police withdrew and pointed firearms at women in this household!! Secondly, beating up of suspects was banned with the advent of this Constitutional democracy. Im sure someone with a mind like yours doesnt appreciated the significance of a Constitutional democracy!! Beating the boy and the girls up is uncalled for!! Thirdly, shooting an unarmed suspect is pure murder, im not event going to explain that one in the hope your empty head will sumday understand on your own!! Lastly the fact that the boy was in a shack, and was with girls its a societal issue! Im sure you must be a coconut not to know that because of the size of houses in the locations it is general practice that once you reach puberty you are built a shack behind the house for privacy, there's nothing criminal about it!! I hope you've learned a thing of two "Mdu"
Jess, wrote
This story is bizarre to say the least. Definitely a true example of poor reporting and investigation. The 'firearm discharged'? As far as I'm concerned you need a human finger on the trigger to 'discharge a firearm'. This is thuggery and murder and not policing! If all is as it is made out to be in this article, then these offices should be jailed and the key thrown away!
shaun, wrote
If this was my son, I would be burning the country down by now. So sorry to read this.
Julie, wrote
I know that they are here to serve and protect, but every time I see an SAPS or JMPD carvan, I pray that I wont get pulled over..not because I have done anything wrong but because I am afraid I am going to get thrown in the back of a van if I refuse to give a bribe or heaven forbid ask why I am being pulled over.. From the info in this article it sounds like this kid was shot dead because he "might" have had a weapon that the police did not find...scary
vuyo, wrote
police are starting to irritate me now! every week we hear more stories on how they are becoming a law unto themselves, i say sue the minister and take him and the police officers involved to court in order to face criminal charges and while we are at it, drag Bheki Cele to court as for his"shoot to kill remarks". the life of an innocent boy was taken by people who are sworn to protect us- this breeds alot of anger
badballie, wrote
"It is not clear how the gun was discharged" The Police may be able to sell this LIE to the general public and uneducated masses, but it doesn't fly with anyone who has ever used a firearm in the line of duty or done advanced weapons training. The only way for the firearm to discharge is for its trigger to be pulled or the hammer to be hit with a force of greater than 8 tons, which in reality will bend or brake the hammer sooner than causing a discharge. The police are the people enemy number one, Zim here we come!!
Tumie, wrote
To think hard criminals are roaming the streets raping small kids and robbing people of their hard earned cash while our police (those that are meant to serve and protect us ) are busy killing young innocent kids...This is revolting in every sense of the word... sis mann nxa
spoko, wrote
Who is the killer in this case? not Thato.........These people are so thick headed it is not a joke and the scarry part is they are carrying guns 8 hrs a day ,,,I need a bullet vest ---------------somoene open a pep stores where we will get bullet proofs for R50.00 please
Anonymous, wrote
How can police say they dont know how a fiream was discharged (5 or even 7 times)!!! Something is wrong with our police; we have a bunch of gangsters in uniform! They must ALL be arrested and jailed!! There is NO EXCUSE for what they did
Mike Thurgood, wrote
This madness of the police has to be stopped. Such a disgraceful and unjustified shooting by the police must end in a life prison sentence. Will it?
Anonymous, wrote
South African Police officers has become The Judge, Jury and executioners. I think they have meetings in the mornings that says ''Shoot anything that moves''
keepitreal, wrote
c'mon lets wait and see what the independant complaints directorate determine what really happened there. You have all heard what the innocent little boy's granny told the media.of course in her eyes he is innocent. Probably just one less criminal murderer on the streets. The cops have to start fighting fire with fire as they are under siege from well organized criminals who have no regrd for life whatsoever. although i have simpathy with the boy's family (i really do as i have children myself) my real simpathy is with the cops out there who face armed criminals on a daily basis. And believe me their job is prabably ten times more dangerous than it was in the apartheid years.
Anonymous, wrote
South African Police officers has become The Judge, Jury and executioners. I think they have meetings in the mornings that says ''Shoot anything that moves''
Anonymous, wrote
These student cops are trigger happy. I've had an encounter where a senior officer and a student cop stopped to search my car. The student cop pointed his gun at me while the senior officer kept it in his holster. How does a gun discharge 5 bullets? This is not a movie wena maaan!!! The guy murdered this boy.
carol, wrote
@mdu - you pig.... have you heard the saying - not guilty until charged guilty... i certainly hope your or one of your families day comes my friend...
Anonymous, wrote
Lets keep BEE going in all areas especially the police where we can enjoy policeman thats IQ's are lower than the calibre of weapon they use.
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