Khulekani Mpanza shooting: CCTV video shows South African police ‘executing’ unarmed man in Krugersdorp
An independent murder investigation has been launched against one officer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A video has emerged in South African which appears to show police officers executing a robbery suspect as he lies wounded and unarmed on the ground.
In CCTV footage obtained by South Africa’s Sunday Times newspaper, police can be seen kicking and fatally shooting the suspect after he has already been disarmed.
South African media have identified the suspect as Khulekani Mpanza, and said he had earlier fired at police while attempting an armed robbery. Officers chased him from the scene to the point where he was killed on the pavement in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO SHOWS SCENES WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING
A murder investigation has been launched against a police constable accused of shooting Mpanza multiple times as he lies wounded. In the video, the gun Mpanza used in the attempted robbery can be seen lying out of reach on the ground.
A police sergeant who appears to kick the suspect after he has been shot, as well as other members of the unit, could also face action from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for failing to stop the shooting or assist the dying man.
According to the Sunday Times, 32-year-old Mpanza attempted to rob a hardware store in the Krugerdorp suburb of Lewisham on the afternoon of 19 October.
Police, reportedly acting on a tip-off, were waiting in a van a short distance away. A witness told the newspaper Mpanza loitered for a short time near the door of the shop then walked out and fired around eight shots at the van before fleeing.
None of the officers involved in the shooting have been suspended, and Krugersdorp police told reporters they would await “word from Ipid” before taking any action.
The African News Agency quoted police Lt Gen Lesetja Mothiba as saying any police officers who acted unlawfully would be prosecuted.
A spokeperson for Ipid, Robbie Raburabu, told the Times that Mpanza's postmortem showed he sustained three gunshot wounds, to his arm, head, and chest. “It's very difficult to get witnesses in such cases. We were very lucky to get this footage,” he said.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments