A 22-year-old man who would not get out of a police car was shot dead by police in East London on New Year's day, Eastern Cape police said.
Siphelele Gedese allegedly attempted to attack police with an axe, Captain Jackson Manatha said.
The man was seated in a police car that had been taken in for repairs at a garage.
"Police ordered the suspect to come out and surrender himself. Instead, he attacked the police with his chopping axe."
Manatha said police fired a warning shot but Gedese allegedly did not surrender.
"He kept on accosting the police with his dangerous axe," he said.
Police opened fire and Gedese was struck on his upper body.
He died in hospital the same day.
An inquest docket was opened.
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