On Wednesday‚ after shooting dead three of his neighbours‚ a man took two policemen and three security guards hostage at a residential estate in Pretoria.
They were freed after a seven-hour standoff‚ and their captor was later found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
TMG Digital looks back at some notable hostage standoffs involving the police.
Cops die in holding cells shootout
Two police officers lost their lives at the hand of a detainee at the Johannesburg Central Police Station’s holding cells during a five-hour standoff in January 2015. The man‚ who had been arrested for the possession of dagga‚ shot dead an officer before holding his colleagues hostage. When negotiations failed‚ the police Special Task Force (STF) team were called in. One of the team’s members was fatally shot by the detainee‚ who was in turn killed himself.
Woman warder held by male inmates
In October 2013‚ a female guard was held hostage for more than 12 hours by four male prisoners at the Mangaung Correctional Centre‚ before being rescued by police. The inmates were reportedly serving time for crimes including rape‚ robbery and murder. The guard was not physically harmed‚ but required counselling after her ordeal. It came less than a year after two inmates held a prison doctor and nurse hostage at the Mangaung facility. She was released quickly‚ but the doctor held for 20 hours‚ before STF officers decided “enough was enough”‚ terminated negotiations and stormed the hostage-takers.
Child saved before father commits suicide
During an eight-hour hostage drama sparked by a domestic argument in Hillbrow in July 2016‚ a man threatened to throw his three-year-old son off a sixth-floor balcony. His wife had managed to escape with their 11-year-old son during the earlier altercation. A standoff ensued when police arrived on the scene‚ but negotiators convinced the man to drop the child safely to them‚ before he hurled himself off the balcony to his death.
Cop shot while following up dog attack complaint
An Athlone man turned his gun on himself and his dog after a day-long standoff in May 2015. A neighbour’s cellpone footage showed police trying to convince the man to give himself up. He had holed himself up inside his home after shooting a police officer‚ who had been sent to investigate an attack his dog was allegedly involved in‚ in the face. The police officer was critically injured‚ but made a recovery.
Man shot dead after holding wife in restaurant
A 26-year-old Khayelitsha man was killed by police in a shootout at the Nyoni’s Kraal restaurant after a nine-hour impasse during which he held his wife and a male employee at gunpoint in June 2007. Police stormed the eatery after the gunman shot his wife in the leg. The employee was hit by a bullet as he fled the scene‚ and a woman passer-by was hit by a stray bullet from the gunfight.
Stun grenades used after ID demanded at gunpoint
Stun grenades were used to shock into submission a 31-year-old Soweto man who held a Home Affairs employee at gunpoint for four-and-a-half hours‚ demanding the delivery of his ID in December 2005. He locked himself into the room with the 35-year-old woman and told negotiators he would release her when he got the document‚ which he had been waiting more than three months for. Home Affairs complied with the man’s request before the police moved in.
Public Protector’s office under siege
In August 2016‚ the Office of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was invaded by members of the Black First Land First movement‚ who demanded the advocate probe billions of rand stolen from the Reserve Bank during apartheid. When they discovered Madonsela wasn’t there‚ they holed themselves up in an office with three staff members‚ saying they would not be released until they had an audience with Madonsela. Police took 26 of them into custody and charged them with trespassing and public violence.
Armoury standoff that wasn’t
Members of the STF were called in to a standoff that wasn’t at Westville Prison in Durban in February 2016. There had been reports that a “mentally ill” Correctional Services official had locked himself inside the armoury. However‚ it turned out that the official had collapsed inside the locked munitions room‚ and police had to cut open the door. He was hospitalised and later released.
Fees Must Fall
Hostage-taking has become quite common in the Fees Must Fall protests on the country’s campuses. Last year‚ Wits vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib was “detained” during a fee hike protest that closed the university for three days‚ while his University of Cape Town counterpart‚ Dr Max Price‚ was held hostage last month by students after his appearance at a Fees Commission hearing at the Centre for the Book. Police intervened to free Price. Somewhat curious‚ however‚ was a threat earlier this month by a Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student to hold the university’s zebras ransom in a bid to prevent classes reopening. “I think it’s time to go take those zebras‚ capture those zebras. Every day we take one zebra and we will tell management if you don’t do what we are telling you‚ we will deal with these zebras accordingly‚” the student urged. The threat was not carried out.
508 hostage cases in a year‚ with few ending tragically - SAPS are good‚ says independent expert
A fatality free hostage situation sounds about for right for our local police who are well trained hostage negotiators‚ according a crime expert.
On Wednesday‚ after shooting dead three of his neighbours‚ a man took two policemen and three security guards hostage at a residential estate in Pretoria.
They were freed after a seven-hour standoff‚ and their captor was later found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Gareth Newham of the Institute of Security Studies says the South African Police Service (SAPS) has highly skilled members who are deployed to placate hostage-takers.
“The SAPS Hostage negotiators are in a special unit that are part of the Police Emergency Services component located in the Visible Policing Division. Hostage Negotiators are one of six specialised units that make up the Police Emergency Services component.
“There are 397 specially trained negotiators in the SAPS who deal with a range of situations including hostage situations‚ kidnapping incidents and dealing with suicidal or mentally disturbed persons.
“In addition to negotiators‚ the SAPS has the Special Task Force (STF) consisting of 99 intensively trained police officers who specialise in high risk situations where lethal force may be needed‚” Newham said.
Police were called onto the scene in Pretoria on Wednesday after the alleged shooter threw stones at the car of a vehicle of one of his neighbours‚ according to reports.
Police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said a police negotiator and members of the police’s STF arrived at the scene and contacted those who had been taken hostage.
“A rescue plan was devised by the Special Task Force to rescue the police and the security guards.
“An armoured van drove next to the property and they were able to secure the release of two police members and three security guards. They were given treatment for shock‚ minor injuries and dehydration.”
Newham said our police negotiators are “are well trained and operate in accordance to updated policies”.
In the 2015/16 financial year‚ police negotiators responded to 508 hostage incidents which lasted a total of 4‚160 working hours‚ according to Newham.
“As far as I am aware‚ most incidents are addressed without fatalities. For example‚ the Special Task Force who deal with high risk situations where people might be killed were only called to 21 hostage situations in 2015/16.”
In the previous financial year negotiators attended to 495 hostage situations‚ Newham said. - Roxanne Henderson
– TMG Digital
Hostage standoffs and shootouts that have made headlines over the years
On Wednesday‚ after shooting dead three of his neighbours‚ a man took two policemen and three security guards hostage at a residential estate in Pretoria.
They were freed after a seven-hour standoff‚ and their captor was later found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
TMG Digital looks back at some notable hostage standoffs involving the police.
Cops die in holding cells shootout
Two police officers lost their lives at the hand of a detainee at the Johannesburg Central Police Station’s holding cells during a five-hour standoff in January 2015. The man‚ who had been arrested for the possession of dagga‚ shot dead an officer before holding his colleagues hostage. When negotiations failed‚ the police Special Task Force (STF) team were called in. One of the team’s members was fatally shot by the detainee‚ who was in turn killed himself.
Woman warder held by male inmates
In October 2013‚ a female guard was held hostage for more than 12 hours by four male prisoners at the Mangaung Correctional Centre‚ before being rescued by police. The inmates were reportedly serving time for crimes including rape‚ robbery and murder. The guard was not physically harmed‚ but required counselling after her ordeal. It came less than a year after two inmates held a prison doctor and nurse hostage at the Mangaung facility. She was released quickly‚ but the doctor held for 20 hours‚ before STF officers decided “enough was enough”‚ terminated negotiations and stormed the hostage-takers.
Child saved before father commits suicide
During an eight-hour hostage drama sparked by a domestic argument in Hillbrow in July 2016‚ a man threatened to throw his three-year-old son off a sixth-floor balcony. His wife had managed to escape with their 11-year-old son during the earlier altercation. A standoff ensued when police arrived on the scene‚ but negotiators convinced the man to drop the child safely to them‚ before he hurled himself off the balcony to his death.
Cop shot while following up dog attack complaint
An Athlone man turned his gun on himself and his dog after a day-long standoff in May 2015. A neighbour’s cellpone footage showed police trying to convince the man to give himself up. He had holed himself up inside his home after shooting a police officer‚ who had been sent to investigate an attack his dog was allegedly involved in‚ in the face. The police officer was critically injured‚ but made a recovery.
Man shot dead after holding wife in restaurant
A 26-year-old Khayelitsha man was killed by police in a shootout at the Nyoni’s Kraal restaurant after a nine-hour impasse during which he held his wife and a male employee at gunpoint in June 2007. Police stormed the eatery after the gunman shot his wife in the leg. The employee was hit by a bullet as he fled the scene‚ and a woman passer-by was hit by a stray bullet from the gunfight.
Stun grenades used after ID demanded at gunpoint
Stun grenades were used to shock into submission a 31-year-old Soweto man who held a Home Affairs employee at gunpoint for four-and-a-half hours‚ demanding the delivery of his ID in December 2005. He locked himself into the room with the 35-year-old woman and told negotiators he would release her when he got the document‚ which he had been waiting more than three months for. Home Affairs complied with the man’s request before the police moved in.
Public Protector’s office under siege
In August 2016‚ the Office of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was invaded by members of the Black First Land First movement‚ who demanded the advocate probe billions of rand stolen from the Reserve Bank during apartheid. When they discovered Madonsela wasn’t there‚ they holed themselves up in an office with three staff members‚ saying they would not be released until they had an audience with Madonsela. Police took 26 of them into custody and charged them with trespassing and public violence.
Armoury standoff that wasn’t
Members of the STF were called in to a standoff that wasn’t at Westville Prison in Durban in February 2016. There had been reports that a “mentally ill” Correctional Services official had locked himself inside the armoury. However‚ it turned out that the official had collapsed inside the locked munitions room‚ and police had to cut open the door. He was hospitalised and later released.
Fees Must Fall
Hostage-taking has become quite common in the Fees Must Fall protests on the country’s campuses. Last year‚ Wits vice-chancellor Professor Adam Habib was “detained” during a fee hike protest that closed the university for three days‚ while his University of Cape Town counterpart‚ Dr Max Price‚ was held hostage last month by students after his appearance at a Fees Commission hearing at the Centre for the Book. Police intervened to free Price. Somewhat curious‚ however‚ was a threat earlier this month by a Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student to hold the university’s zebras ransom in a bid to prevent classes reopening. “I think it’s time to go take those zebras‚ capture those zebras. Every day we take one zebra and we will tell management if you don’t do what we are telling you‚ we will deal with these zebras accordingly‚” the student urged. The threat was not carried out.
508 hostage cases in a year‚ with few ending tragically - SAPS are good‚ says independent expert
A fatality free hostage situation sounds about for right for our local police who are well trained hostage negotiators‚ according a crime expert.
On Wednesday‚ after shooting dead three of his neighbours‚ a man took two policemen and three security guards hostage at a residential estate in Pretoria.
They were freed after a seven-hour standoff‚ and their captor was later found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Gareth Newham of the Institute of Security Studies says the South African Police Service (SAPS) has highly skilled members who are deployed to placate hostage-takers.
“The SAPS Hostage negotiators are in a special unit that are part of the Police Emergency Services component located in the Visible Policing Division. Hostage Negotiators are one of six specialised units that make up the Police Emergency Services component.
“There are 397 specially trained negotiators in the SAPS who deal with a range of situations including hostage situations‚ kidnapping incidents and dealing with suicidal or mentally disturbed persons.
“In addition to negotiators‚ the SAPS has the Special Task Force (STF) consisting of 99 intensively trained police officers who specialise in high risk situations where lethal force may be needed‚” Newham said.
Police were called onto the scene in Pretoria on Wednesday after the alleged shooter threw stones at the car of a vehicle of one of his neighbours‚ according to reports.
Police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said a police negotiator and members of the police’s STF arrived at the scene and contacted those who had been taken hostage.
“A rescue plan was devised by the Special Task Force to rescue the police and the security guards.
“An armoured van drove next to the property and they were able to secure the release of two police members and three security guards. They were given treatment for shock‚ minor injuries and dehydration.”
Newham said our police negotiators are “are well trained and operate in accordance to updated policies”.
In the 2015/16 financial year‚ police negotiators responded to 508 hostage incidents which lasted a total of 4‚160 working hours‚ according to Newham.
“As far as I am aware‚ most incidents are addressed without fatalities. For example‚ the Special Task Force who deal with high risk situations where people might be killed were only called to 21 hostage situations in 2015/16.”
In the previous financial year negotiators attended to 495 hostage situations‚ Newham said. - Roxanne Henderson
– TMG Digital
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