WHO KILLED MY SON – BYSTANDER’S FATHER WANTS TO KNOW
The father of a man who died in hospital after a shootout that happened between the Matatiele police and five armed robbers on Wednesday wants an explanation of what happened to his son. Lengane Mohlakoane 42, was visiting the department of Labour offices when he was struck by a bullet in the stomach during the shootout. He was rushed to Taylor Bequest Hospital, later transferred to Nelson Mandela Hospital where he succumbed to the bullet wound on Thursday. Amongst other things, the deceased’s father, Refuoe Mohlakoane wants to know is what kind of an injection his son got as it is reported that he passed on after being injected. The distraught father also demands an explanation of who killed his son between the armed robbers and the police.
When Mohlakoane spoke with The Informer, he was from the police station to get clarity on what happened to his son.
He told the informer that the police could not give him anything. Commenting about the injection, Mohlakoane said what makes him question the injection is that his son complained about the injection given to him by the doctors at the hospital “Since his transfer from Matatiele to Mthatha, Lengane was communicating with me over the phone.
“Even on Thursday, the day of his death he was active, he even told me that he walked from his ward to the gate to talk to one of the security guards. In the afternoon he called me complaining about the injection that causing him to be dizzy and lose energy. We received news of his death at seven in the evening,” said Mohlakoane.
Responding to this Police Provincial Spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said a case of murder has been opened and the IPID is will conduct its own investigation. Meanwhile, three of the alleged Post Office armed suspects appeared for the first time before the magistrate court of Matatiele on Friday. Mncedisi Hadebe, Monwabisi Khohli and Mthembeni Sosibo were charged with Robbery with aggravating circumstances, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. The three accused requested legal representation from the state and the case was remanded to the 21st of September for bail consideration and legal representation.
According to SAPS, five armed robbers got into a shootout with police on the R56 road between the magistrate court and municipal offices in Matatiele on Wednesday. The shooting left four bystanders and one suspect injured while one suspect was fatally wounded.
Brigadier Kinana said the incident began in Cedarville when five male suspects aged between 28 and 39 burst into the Cedarville post office pretending to be customers “They threatened the security guard at gunpoint and further took his firearm before pushing him inside the post office. They allegedly pointed firearms at customers and employees of the post office whilst one of them jumped over the counter and demanded money. After taking the money, the suspects drove away in a charcoal-grey Toyota Cressida with licence plates number NA 4131,” said Brigadier Kinana.
According to Kinana, the suspects were spotted by a police officer who was approaching the post office for a routine visit. The officer was alerted about the incident by the bystanders. On realizing that the police officer was nearby the Post Office, the suspects started firing shots as they drove away, and the SAPS member retaliated and called for backup assistance from the Matatiele police” During the chase, members of the SAPS in Matatiele managed to stop the suspects’ vehicle and all four suspects were subsequently arrested whilst the other one jumped out of the vehicle and escaped towards Matatiele Magistrate Court in town, shooting randomly and towards police officers. There was an exchange of gunfire between the police and the suspect which left the suspect fatally wounded. As the suspect was shooting randomly in town, about four (4) bystanders were seriously injured and were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention including the fourth suspect who also sustained gunshot injuries during the shooting with the police,” said Kinana.
A total of four firearms, three pistols and one revolver were recovered.
