MASANGO CONDEMNS UNFORTUNATE KILLING OF A LEARNER

Media Release
03 February 2009

Mpumalanga Safety and Security MEC Siphosezwe Masango has appreciated the police’s continuous efforts of bringing crime to its knees, however he has sympathized with the family of a 17-year old Sedi Khoza who was killed while people were doing their job.

MEC Masango said it was however unfortunate that the police did not take precautionary measures in arresting two suspects alleged to have had firearms which resulted in the shooting.

It was reported that on Friday 30 January 2009) armed police raided a school searching for the two pupils when they subsequently fired shots of which one bullet ricocheted off a wall into a pupil’s face killing him instantly.

“It is with regret that an innocent learner was killed while the police were doing their job at the school. Should the police be found that they were negligent in performing their duties, the law should take its course,” said MEC Masango.

MEC Masango said he was shocked about the sad news and sympathized with Khoza’s family. He said the police’s intention was to fight crime rather than shooting innocent people.

“While we do not condone the shooting at the school, we want to thank the community for alerting the police about the firearms at the school. We encourage such partnership between communities and the police,” said MEC Masango.

He said regardless of the unfortunate incident at the school, learners should always feel safe at schools and should also trust the police for their safety.

On Tuesday (03 February 2009) the policeman that fired a shot that killed a pupil was arrested by the Independent Complaints Directorate and appeared at the Mhala Magistrate’s Court.

Issued by Communication Section, Mpumalanga Provincial Government