CAPE TOWN – The Site B community in Khayelitsha is reeling after a man was allegedly shot and killed by Lingelethu-West police officers at one of the fuel stations in the area on Friday night, 16 October. The community said the incident occurred after 20:00.

Community members said there was an exchange of gunfire between the officers and criminals.

One community member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment, said the criminals had hijacked a car in the vicinity.

“I am not sure where exactly the car was hijacked, but I heard that the car owner reported the incident at Lingelethu-West Police Station. Through the car’s tracker, the officers, together with the car owner, managed to trace the car and found it at the fuel station being filled with petrol.

“It was reported that as the officers approached the car, a group of men came out and opened fire on them. The officers returned fire and one of the criminals was shot and killed,” the community member explained.

He stated that the deceased was a well-known criminal who was wanted by the officers.

He stressed that the community has been tense since the incident.

Police refer questions to IPID

Provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col F.C. van Wyk refused to comment and referred all questions to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

“Kindly be informed that the circumstances surrounding the incident cited in your enquiry are now the subject of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. You are advised to refer your enquiry to the spokesperson of the mentioned department for a response,” said Van Wyk.

IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping had not yet responded to a message sent to her at the time of publication.

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