A TRADITIONAL healer and pharmacist at the Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani was yesterday shot and killed by the police during a shootout
Eddy Rikhotso, 57, from N'waMakena village near Giyani in Limpopo, had allegedly started arguing with a taxi driver.
It is alleged that Rikhotso demanded the taxi driver to drop him off next to his home because it was raining.
Giyani police spokesperson Warrant Officer Thomas Makhubele said during the argument Rikhotso produced a gun and opened fire, shooting a passenger in the neck first before he shot the taxi driver on the hand.
"After that drama the taxi driver stopped the vehicle and other commuters ran for cover," Makhubele said yesterday.
"When we arrived at the scene, Rikhotso had already left. We went searching for him and when we cornered him in the village he pulled out the gun and shot at us."
According to Makhubele, police then returned fire and shot Rikhotso. He said Rikhotso died while being transported to the Nkhensani Hospital where he worked as a pharmacist.
Margret Maluleke, a passenger who was inside the taxi, said she was still traumatised by the incident.
"I'm still shocked after witnessing the incident in which a person started shooting at commuters," Maluleke said.
"I know Rikhotso as a respected person in our village and I never thought that he would act like he did."
Maluleke said despite being a traditional healer Rikhotso also participated in various community structures within the village and neighbouring Hlaneki.
A relative of the deceased, Elias Rikhotso, said he was speechless because he knew Rikhotso as a humble person who would not fight with anybody.
"Rikhotso usually engaged himself with developmental activities within the community," he said.
Makhubele said they had opened two cases of attempted murder and one of murder.
"We are still investigating the actual cause of the quarrel," he said.
Police shoot, kill gun-toting pharmacist
A TRADITIONAL healer and pharmacist at the Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani was yesterday shot and killed by the police during a shootout
Eddy Rikhotso, 57, from N'waMakena village near Giyani in Limpopo, had allegedly started arguing with a taxi driver.
It is alleged that Rikhotso demanded the taxi driver to drop him off next to his home because it was raining.
Giyani police spokesperson Warrant Officer Thomas Makhubele said during the argument Rikhotso produced a gun and opened fire, shooting a passenger in the neck first before he shot the taxi driver on the hand.
"After that drama the taxi driver stopped the vehicle and other commuters ran for cover," Makhubele said yesterday.
"When we arrived at the scene, Rikhotso had already left. We went searching for him and when we cornered him in the village he pulled out the gun and shot at us."
According to Makhubele, police then returned fire and shot Rikhotso. He said Rikhotso died while being transported to the Nkhensani Hospital where he worked as a pharmacist.
Margret Maluleke, a passenger who was inside the taxi, said she was still traumatised by the incident.
"I'm still shocked after witnessing the incident in which a person started shooting at commuters," Maluleke said.
"I know Rikhotso as a respected person in our village and I never thought that he would act like he did."
Maluleke said despite being a traditional healer Rikhotso also participated in various community structures within the village and neighbouring Hlaneki.
A relative of the deceased, Elias Rikhotso, said he was speechless because he knew Rikhotso as a humble person who would not fight with anybody.
"Rikhotso usually engaged himself with developmental activities within the community," he said.
Makhubele said they had opened two cases of attempted murder and one of murder.
"We are still investigating the actual cause of the quarrel," he said.
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