The IPID spokesperson, Grace Langa, says on Sunday 12 September 2021, two police officers were busy conducting routine patrols when they received a complaint about a fight in Joost Engelbrecht Street, Port Nolloth, in the Northern Cape. Langa says on their arrival, two female police officers found a wounded 24-year-old man who had a knife in his hand.

She says when the police tried to ask him what happened, he then allegedly threatened to stab someone from the house he pointed out. Langa says the 24-year-old immediately turned and ran towards that house. She says police officers who were at the scene tried to calm him down and ordered him to drop the knife, which he refused to do. He ran towards the gate of the house he pointed out earlier. Langa says after he discovered that the gate was locked, he went towards one of the police officers who frequently ordered him to drop the knife, which he refused to do.

“The female police officer tripped over a sand heap behind her whilst walking backward and landed on her back. The suspect then approached her with the knife in a stabbing motion whilst she was on the ground. He grabbed her firearm with one hand whilst holding the knife in a stabbing position. The female constable pulled the trigger in an attempt to ward off the imminent attack on her. The bullet struck the suspect on his left buttock. He turned around and walked a few meters before he collapsed, An ambulance was called and the suspect was transported to hospital for medical treatment. He died a few minutes after arriving at the hospital. His body was transported to the Springbok State Mortuary,” said Langa.

According to Langa, no injuries were sustained by police officers who were on the scene, and the police officers who were allegedly victimised have opened a case of grievous bodily harm (GBH) against the suspect.

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