Cops' crowd control 'over the top'

Police have been accused of using deadly force against service-delivery protesters barely a year after the Marikana massacre.

Two people were killed and two others seriously wounded yesterday when police allegedly used live rounds against residents of Mothutlung, North West.

Police have been under fire for, among other things :

• The fatal shooting of 34 striking miners at Lonmin's Marikana mine on August 16 2012;
• The February 2011 killing of Andries Tatane during a protest in Ficksburg, Free State; and
• The February 26 2012 death of Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia, who was dragged behind a police van.

Institute for Security Studies researcher Dr Johan Burger said section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act made it clear that police could use deadly force only when their lives were in danger.

"National policy also states that police can use various instruments for crowd control like teargas, rubber bullets or water cannons. They cannot use live ammunition on protesters," he said.

Yesterday's shooting occurred after residents, who have been without water for more than a week, marched to the Madibeng municipal offices in Brits.

Moments later, two residents - including local photographer Michael Tshele, 62 - lay dead.

"He was taking pictures when he was shot. I saw him falling on the ground, with blood pouring out of his eye," said a witness, Mpho Tselapedi.

He said police had stopped firing after hitting Tshele.

Tshele's nephew Tlhalefang Mpete said the family was in shock.

"We have just received the news. We are devastated."

Community leader Paul Hendricks showed journalists a live ammunition cartridge that he claimed had been found at the scene.

"Police were preventing us from crossing over to Brits. We tried to reason with them but one started counting down. They then opened fire with live bullets, without any warning," he said.

A picture captured on a cellphone shows a bloodied man in his early 20s lying face up. According to resident Lizzy Makwela this was allegedly the police's first victim.

Provincial police spokesman Sabata Mokgwabone declined to comment on the allegation that live ammunition was fired, but said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate was investigating.

"Investigators went to the scene and police officers who were at the scene have already been interviewed," he said.

DA councillor in the Madibeng municipality Eddie Barlow said residents' grievances were genuine. He said the water crisis was a result of a lack of planning and maintenance of infrastructure.

"Three pumps are in for repairs and there are no replacements. It is just pathetic," he said.

Municipal spokesman Tumelo Tshabalala could not be reached for comment.

The streets of Mothutlung were littered with tree branches, burning tyres and rocks that residents had used to barricade roads earlier.

Police continued to maintain a strong presence yesterday, with residents vowing to intensify their protest action today.