Protest death probed

2009-06-08 09:25

Andre Damons

Johannesburg - A man is dead after police opened fire with live ammunition on protesters who allegedly threw petrol bombs at police officers’ homes in Mashishing.

Two other men were also injured in the protest against poor service delivery on Thursday night.

The Mpumalanga police are now waiting for a post mortem to determine the cause of the man’s death. They say he only had a wound on his arm and had not been shot.

According to police spokesperson Abie Khoabane, the two injured men were shot with live ammunition, and the man that later died was not injured during the shooting.

Protest became violent

“About 5 000 people showed up over (poor) service delivery and soon became violent.

The police shot at them with rubber bullets since they were obstructing roads, burning vehicle tyres and throwing rocks at passing cars and buses,” said Khoabane.

According to him, the police only started using live ammunition when the protestors started attacking the homes and families of police officers and a council member.

Their actions were “in self defence”.

The officers’ families were in their homes when protesters started throwing petrol bombs at the houses.

Six police vehicles and shops were also damaged.

On Sunday the police were still in the area.

According to Khoabane, a post mortem will be done this week, and will show the cause of the man’s death.

- Beeld