Hijack victim shot by cops to get R19m

Damages awarded to a young Soshanguve man, now a quadraplegic after police bullets hit him as his hijackers drove with him in the back seat.

Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko, pictured, has been ordered to pay more than R19.2 million damages to a young Soshanguve man who is a quadriplegic after he was shot by the police while being hijacked five years ago.

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered Nhleko to compensate Mandla Vincent Mnisi, 35, for his ordeal after the police opened fire on his Mercedes-Benz in a Pretoria street in August 2011.

Mnisi, a construction worker, and a female friend were hijacked while they were sitting in his parked car. Three hijackers drove off with the vehicle with Mnisi sitting in the back seat with his head between his legs as instructed. Two of the hijackers sat on each side of him, while a third drove the car with Mnisi’s friend still in the passenger seat.

While they were driving they heard police sirens. Mnisi was instructed to sit up. The hijackers then started to argue about stopping for the police, but one refused. The police then opened fire.

Mnisi was hit in the stomach, knee and back, and his friend was shot in the leg. Two of the hijackers died at the scene.

Mnisi said in court papers none of the hijackers used their firearms, and the police who fired shots at his vehicle did not try to stop it by shooting at the tyres, but were instead shooting to hurt or kill the passengers.

He claimed the shooting was wrongful and unlawful as the degree of force used was unreasonable.

His vehicle, which at about 45 bullet holes, was written off.

Mnisi is now a quadriplegic and permanently disabled and disfigured. Apart from specialist equipment, therapy, caregiving and medical treatment, he also needs psychiatric and psychological counselling and medication for severe depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mnisi sued the police not only for his past and future medical costs but also for his pain, suffering and loss of earnings.

The police did not try to stop the car by shooting at the tyres, but were instead shooting to hurt or kill the passengers.