SAfrica killing fuels debate on cops’ lethal force
JOHANNESBURG — Police allegedly fired more than a dozen rounds at a car they mistakenly thought was stolen, killing a woman and fueling a debate about whether officers should have greater leeway to use deadly force to combat South Africa’s high crime rate.
The shooting comes just weeks after President Jacob Zuma said in a speech that South African police should have fewer restrictions on using lethal force. Underscoring the sensitivity of the issue, South Africa’s minister of police visited the slain woman’s family on Tuesday.
Police opened fire at a car carrying 30-year-old Olga Kekana and three others early Sunday near Pretoria. Kekana was shot in the head and died at the scene. Two others in the car were wounded. The driver was unhurt.
Moses Dlamini, spokesman for the Independent Complaints Directorate that is investigating the shooting, said Tuesday the policemen’s weapons had been taken as part of the investigation but that the officers were still at work and had not been disciplined.
“There hasn’t been any suspension. There hasn’t been any arrest,” he said. “At this point we don’t know who fired the shot that killed the lady. There are so many question marks here that it is difficult to say.”
Those in the car said police did not warn them before opening fire around 5 a.m. Sunday, Dlamini said.
“According to the driver, shortly after they saw police blue lights there were shots fired at them,” he said.
The driver stopped, put on his emergency lights and tried to get out of the car when more shots were fired, Dlamini said.
Simon Mathibela, the driver, told The Star newspaper that after opening fire the police stopped to look at the car and its wounded occupants, then left without offering to help.
“When they realized we were the wrong people, they kept on saying ’sorry,’” he said. “The police action is disgusting.”
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa visited Kekana’s family on Tuesday in the town of Mabopane, near Pretoria.
“We regret this unfortunate incident and wish to express our sympathy,” Mthethwa said in a statement. “The police have a duty to fight crime while protecting the lives of citizens, and this must be done within the boundaries of the law.”
Ministry spokesman Zweli Mnisi said the government is talking to the family about compensation but did not give details.
Louisa Kekana said Tuesday that her cousin Olga was a self-employed hairdresser. “She loved to laugh and was very talkative,” she said.
South Africa is struggling to control its high crime rate before next year’s World Cup, when about 500,000 visitors are expected.
Government crime statistics released in September show that South Africa’s murder rate — one of the world’s highest — dropped 3.4 percent. That still leaves 50 murders a day in the country of some 50 million people.
Sunday’s shooting prompted questions about whether authorities are going too far in trying to cut crime.
“This is a strong message to officers that they can shoot first and ask questions later,” read an editorial in The Times, a Johannesburg newspaper.
Mnisi said he didn’t think the shooting was a result of the calls for enhanced police use of force. Zuma’s comments late last month to police commanders supported a proposed amendment to give police more freedom to shoot in dangerous situations. Parliament has yet to act on the measure.
The police minister warned officers that “trigger-happy members of the police must not think that this is a license to kill. It is a measure aimed specifically at serious violent crime and dangerous criminals, who place lives of both police officers and the public in danger.”
Associated Press Writer Nkemeleng Nkosi contributed to this report.
(This version CORRECTS that driver and three others were in the car instead of four others)
Related News
South African police arrest 20-year-old son accused of trying to send hit man after his momOctober 6th, 2009 SAfrican son accused of ordering mom's killingJOHANNESBURG — South African authorities say police have arrested a man accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his mother. The spokesman for a special crime-fighting unit called the Hawks said Tuesday that police have arrested 20-year-old Zander Botha and are holding him on a 1,000 rand ($135) bail in Free State province.
Pa. police say woman put stolen check in church offering and stole a wallet from a pewOctober 6th, 2009 Police: Pa. woman put stolen check in church plateNEW BRIGHTON, Pa. — Police said a woman put a forged $50 check in a church offering plate and stole a woman's wallet from a pew in the same western Pennsylvania church.
Police: Ala. mom charged after teen seen riding in box atop van, girl unhurtOctober 5th, 2009 Ala. teen found riding in box on van, mom chargedALBERTVILLE, Ala. — An Alabama woman has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police say she let her daughter ride in a cardboard box on top of their van.
Woman allegedly threatens to kill postal worker in Alaska over late packageAugust 25th, 2009 Irate woman allegedly threatens postal workerANCHORAGE, Alaska — An off-duty Anchorage police officer arrested a woman accused of threatening to kill a postal worker because a package was late. Anchorage Police Lt.
For a few rupees, Chandigarh woman loses a bagfulAugust 5th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Being told that a few currency notes had fallen near her car cost a woman dear. Her purse was stolen as she went looking for the notes.
Baltimore medics mistakenly declare burglary suspect dead; man laid on floor for 30 minutesAugust 3rd, 2009 Baltimore medics mistakenly declare man deadBALTIMORE — Baltimore police say a burglary suspect mistakenly declared dead by medics after he was shot by an officer lay on a convenience store floor for half an hour before anyone noticed he was still alive. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (goo-lee-EL-mee) says 51-year-old Michael Quarles was shot early Saturday when he lunged at an officer with a long screwdriver.
South African President Jacob Zuma wins damages from UK's Guardian newspaper over rape claimJuly 30th, 2009 South African president wins damages from UK paperLONDON — South African President Jacob Zuma won damages Thursday from Britain's The Guardian newspaper over an article that mistakenly claimed he was a rapist. Zuma sued the paper for libel after it published an article in March claiming Zuma was guilty of rape, corruption and bribery.
Police: Ohio woman rents gun at shooting range, learns how to fire it, uses it to kill herselfJuly 28th, 2009 Police: Ohio woman shoots self at gun range, diesSHARONVILLE, Ohio — Police say a woman rented a handgun at an Ohio indoor shooting range, got some instructions on how to use it and then fatally shot herself. Police in the Cincinnati suburb of Sharonville say they believe Ann Fukuyama committed suicide Sunday at Target World, a public range that sells and rents guns and has a dozen 25-yard target shooting lanes.
Iowa police arrest woman who allegedly drove a stolen car around police barricadeJuly 6th, 2009 Woman allegedly drives stolen car around barricadeCEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Cedar Rapids police arrested a woman after officials said she drove a stolen car from Illinois around a barricade at a deadly accident. Police said the woman drove past two squad cars and officers who were directing traffic after the accident Sunday morning that killed a Cedar Rapids man.
Auto-lifters' gang busted in Delhi, 12 stolen vehicles seizedJuly 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An auto lifters' gang operating in the south Delhi area was busted here Sunday with the arrest of six people, police said. The leader of the gang, Manoj Kumar alias Thakur, 22, and his accomplices Manoj alias Jagga, 22, Shashank, 19, Dipanker, 24 - all residents of south Delhi - as well as Ajeet Kumar, 21, and Sanjay Kumar, 22, residents of Ghaziabad and Baraut in Uttar Pradesh were arrested Sunday.
Police say 61 illegal miners found dead in abandoned South African shaftJune 2nd, 2009 Police say 61 miners found dead in South AfricaJOHANNESBURG — Police say the bodies of another 25 illegal miners have been brought up from an abandoned shaft where 36 others had been found dead over the weekend in central South Africa. Police are calling on relatives to help identify the 61 victims who died searching for gold.
South African woman held for stealing firm funds for liquor storesMay 8th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - A South African woman of Indian origin allegedly used funds stolen from her employer during her tenure as a salaries accountant to finance several liquor businesses for her family, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Friday. Danalutchmee Latchman, her husband and daughter (unnamed) were arrested and have been charged with fraud, theft and money laundering in the Johannesburg specialised commercial crimes court.
Wyo. police arrest woman after finding her in hotel room with barrel of cinnamon bear candiesApril 28th, 2009 Police arrest woman with barrel of bear candiesCASPER, Wyo. — Police arrested a 28-year-old woman after finding a barrel of cinnamon bear candies in her hotel room that police believe had been stolen from a local restaurant.
Police arrest woman they say used Taser on Utah Highway Patrol officer during struggleApril 28th, 2009 Police arrest woman they say used Taser on officerSALT LAKE CITY — Police have arrested a woman they said used a Utah Highway Patrol trooper's Taser on him. Lisa Parker, 41, was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of aggravated assault, interference with an arresting officer and unauthorized control of a motor vehicle.
Connecticut police arrest woman twice in 3 hours on drunken driving chargesApril 21st, 2009 Woman nabbed twice in 3 hours for drunken drivingFARMINGTON, Conn. — Connecticut police booked a 29-year-old woman for drunken driving, and then charged her with the same crime less than three hours later when they spotted her behind the wheel again.
Loading ...