'Unarmed teenager shot by cop'

A teenage boy shot at point-blank range by police in Soweto has left his family reeling in shock.

Thato Mokoka, 16, was pinned to the ground by an officer when he was shot in the head by another policeman at his home in Braamfischerville. The shooting happened just before midnight on Monday.

"I saw his brains splash out," said Thato's grandmother Sybil Mokoka.

Police stormed into a shack where Thato was sleeping after they could not find him in the main house.

The six officers were searching for a gun allegedly being used by a gang terrorising the community. Thato was suspected to be a member of the gang.

Mokoka said she was woken up at about 11pm by loud knocking on her door. It was the police.

"But by time I opened I was confronted with a rifle to my face and a hail of insults and threats," she said.

"The officers said I had an attitude by taking my time to open the door. They threatened to beat me up."

Mokoka was with her daughter and her 10-month-old grandchild.

"They then went to the shack. They dragged him [Thato] out while assaulting him. One officer pinned him down with his boot pressed against his neck.

"Thato looked at me from the side and kept saying 'mama, I have done nothing. Father (referring to the policeman), I have done nothing' as other officers searched his room," she said.

Then another officer came from behind her with a rifle.

"He shot him several times at point-blank range. I could not believe it," said Mokoka, who raised Thato as a son.

Thato's mother Beverly Mokoka lives in a nearby house. She was too devastated to speak yesterday.

Jabulani police spokesman Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela confirmed the incident.

"Police were following on a tip about a group of boys with a gun terrorising school children during the day.

"They did not find the gun. They were supposed to go around searching for members of the gang but before they collected them all, this incident happened.

"A case of murder has been referred to the Independent Complaints Directorate for investigation. We do not know what led to the shooting. He was shot five times," Makhubela said.

Thato's uncle Jutas Mokoka was at the mortuary yesterday.

"He was shot three times in the head and four in the back. It was horrible," he said.

Mokoka said the only problem she had with Thato was his smoking habit and obsession with girls.

"Otherwise he was a good-natured boy who always smiled. He loved children.

"I always heard about this sort of thing happening and thought people exaggerated. Now it has happened before my eyes.

"I have lost faith in the police. It is clear from their attitude and conduct from the minute they knocked on the door they had murderous intentions," Mokoka said.