Grandfather dies in shoot-out with cops
CONFLICTING versions of a fatal shooting which left a grandfather dead and one policeman seriously wounded in eNseleni on Thursday morning, are puzzling investigators.
The family of the deceased grandfather, Bhekizenzo Mcupheni Msweli (65), claim he died at the hands of police who ‘attacked’ their house.
‘At dawn we heard dogs barking and we thought intruders had jumped the fence. My husband took out his registered firearm and checked the front door,’ said
Msweli’s wife, Sihle Mdletshe.
‘A group of about 10 men entered our premises and they did not identify themselves as police officers.
‘They threw explosives inside our home, and that’s when the shooting started.
‘No one knew they were police. We all thought criminals had targeted our house.
‘When we asked why they attacked our home, police in full uniform said they were following a lead of a stolen vehicle.
‘My husband has cars, but none of them were stolen,’ she said.
The police version of events is that the KwaMsane Tactical Response Team and KwaMbonambi SAPS targeted the homestead in search of a suspect involved in a house robbery and rape incident which occurred in June last year.
According to their statement, a suspect opened fire when the police swooped in.
Police confirmed the incident and said Msweli suffered three gunshot wounds on his upper body and he died several hours later in Ngwelezana Hospital.
A police officer was also seriously injured during the shoot-out.
King Cetshwayo Police Cluster spokesperson, Capt Mbongeni Mdlalose, said an inquest and attempted murder cases were opened.
Msweli will be laid to rest on Saturday.
No one knew they were police