On the morning of Saturday, 19 April 2008, the ICD received a complaint in Senekal, Free State, of death as a result of police action. It is alleged that a certain police reservist arrested a man for housebreaking and theft. The suspect was pointed out to the police reservist by members of the community and he was taken to the Senekal Satellite Police Station for questioning.

Upon arrival at the police station interrogation started in a room just next to the Community Service Centre. It is alleged that it is at this point that the suspect was assaulted by the reservist. It is further alleged that the police reservist took out his service firearm and shot the suspect once in the head. The suspect died on the scene.

 A case of murder has been opened and the ICD has taken the investigation over. ICD investigation has revealed that there were three other reservists and two civilians present during the assault when the suspect was shot. We have therefore obtained statements from them to establish the circumstances under which the suspect (deceased) was shot. The police reservist who is now a suspect was immediately taken into police custody.

The matter appeared in the Senekal Magistrate Court today, Monday 21 April 2008 and was postponed to 25 April 2008 for formal bail application. This was done in absentia of the suspect (police reservist) who is still in hospital.

Issued by The Independent Complaints Directorate