News: Video clues in stadium death:
Cops open assault, attempted theft case against reveller
WHEN Ntandazo Mbenje’s body arrived at his Cape Town home on Thursday, his family – who are struggling to come up with money to pay for his funeral – was torn apart.
Mbenje’s family has unsuccessfully called on soccer organisations to help foot the bill for his funeral, which they are hoping to conduct in their hometown of Ngcobo, in the Eastern Cape.
Meanwhile, police have opened a case of assault and attempted theft against the unidentified soccer fan accused of causing the fatal shooting during the controversial pitch invasion at the Kaiser Chiefs- Chippa United clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last week.
Mbenje’s brother, part-time construction worker Bongani Mxolo, 30, said if the family did not get financial help, they would not be able to bury him. “When his body arrived on Thursday it tore our family apart.“
Police maintain Mbenje, 29, died as a result of a scuffle between a police officer and a fan who invaded the pitch after the match and allegedly attempted to take the policeman’s firearm.
Mbenje, who had nothing to do with the altercation, was shot just a few metres from where the scuffle took place.
New video footage showing the dramatic events which led to the fatal shooting appears to contradict the police’s version of the events and involves a Nationwide security guard.
Police originally said two fans had been involved in a scuffle with the policeman and attempted to steal his firearm.
Weekend Post is in possession of more than one video from separate sources which show the incident from different angles. These seem to indicate just one fan was involved in the incident, and no effort was made to apprehend him after the shooting.
Footage shows the policeman involved, a captain in the Public Order Police (POPS) unit only known as Captain Jonkers, walking down the side of the field be- fore he suddenly encounters a pitch invader. The policeman, obscured by an advertising board, appears to trip. A scuffle breaks out between the two men.
During the extremely short time that the policeman is on the ground, a man wearing a Nationwide Security bib is seen running from the field towards the policeman and the fan on the sideline.
As the policeman gets up, along with the fan, the scuffle between the two continues and the policeman is then seen pushing the fan backwards towards the advertising boards.
At that moment, a gunshot is heard and Mbenje, who was making his way to the pitch, is seen dropping to the ground a few me- tres away. While it is still unclear exactly how the fatal shot was fired, it is clear that the fan at the centre of the controversy had his back to the shooting victim at all times, except for when the police officer pushed him.
In addition, almost directly after the gunshot, the fan police want to charge is seen running on to the field, seemingly continuing to celebrate his team’s win, and with no efforts being made to apprehend him.
While Mbenje’s death is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) because he was shot with a police firearm, the police are investigating the alleged attempted theft and assault against the po- liceman involved.
IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini said yesterday that the investigation was ongoing.
“We have sent our team to the stadium to reconstruct the crime scene. Only once this is done will we have answers,” he said.
Provincial police spokesman Brigadier Marinda Mills said they were awaiting the IPID report and recommendations.
She confirmed yesterday that the police officer involved had opened a case of attempted theft and assault on a police officer after the shooting.
Mills said attempts would be made to identify the man involved in the scuffle with the officer. Have your say Text your opinion to 32972. R1 per SMS. Errors billed.