Family 'wants answers' after lies about cop shooting

19 January 2017 - 09:32 By JAN BORNMAN
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Constable Tshepo Tladi's colleagues described the slain policeman yesterday as a decorated and dedicated colleague while his fiancee, Nthabiseng Majake, comforted their two-year-old son and his family asked difficult questions of the police.

Tladi and other police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at a petrol station in Katlehong, on the East Rand, last week.

His fatal shooting was captured on CCTV footage obtained by The Times.

Initial police reports from Gauteng police spokesman Captain Kay Makhubela said Tladi was shot after being "ambushed" by armed robbers.

  • 'They said robbers shot him': Video blows away cop death 'cover-up'Constable Tshepo Tladi's family were told he was shot and killed by armed robbers last week. Now they believe he was killed by a colleague, shot through the head almost at point-blank range.

But the video footage appears to show that he was shot in the back of the head by a colleague.

Family representative Letsatsi Moeketsi, speaking at a memorial service for the slain officer at the Uniting Reformed Church, in Katlehong North, said Tshepo was not just a father to his own child, but a father figure to the entire Tladi family.

Moeketsi said the family was aware of the CCTV footage showing Tladi's shooting.

  • SA’s top cop ‘shocked and disturbed’ by video showing apparent SAPS shooting cover-upThe South African Police Service (SAPS) on Tuesday said it had sanctioned both misconduct and criminal investigations following the fatal shooting of Constable Tshepo Tladi in Katlehong last week Thursday.

"As Tladi's family, if you see that clip, now ... the South African police, please convince us that the clip is something that is fabricated. If that clip is not fabricated ... then why are you here and why are you crying?" Moeketsi asked.

He said he was not attacking the police but the family "just wanted answers".

"The question is actually what happened? Tell us what happened? Come up with the proof and tell us that clip is a fabrication, then we will say 'okay, fine guys'. But if it was not a fabrication, I am sorry guys, you have no reason for being here," he said.

  • Cop killed in controversial circumstances described as a ‘soldier’ who was always ready to helpConstable Tshepo Tladi's colleagues have described him as a decorated‚ disciplined and dedicated colleague whose first duty was serving the community.

Tladi's police colleagues described him as a decorated, disciplined and dedicated police officer whose first duty was serving the community.

"It is not well with our souls," said Colonel A Phenya, commander of the Katlehong North police station at which Tladi was based.

She said Tladi was a "soldier".

"He was one of those members, when the instructions came, I would start with Tladi.

"He was a soldier because I knew he was always ready to help," Phenya said.

The station commander said she had worked with Tladi's mother, Jubriel, a policewoman who was also shot and killed while on duty several years ago.

"Tladi was my child. I worked with his mother and he was like a child to me," she said.

Phenya said Tladi had earned prizes including the 2010 Soccer Medal and the Centenary Medal for his dedication and hard work.

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