Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

The Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating the death of a man who was fatally shot by a police reservist at the Senekal police station in the Free State.

The directorate said yesterday that the reservist had arrested the man for housebreaking and theft on Saturday.

Spokesman Dikeledi Phiri said: "The man was allegedly pointed out to the police reservist by community members and was taken to the Senekal satellite police station for questioning."

Phiri said the man was apparently interrogated in a room next to the community service centre.

"It is alleged that it was at this point that the suspect was assaulted by the reservist," Phiri said. "It is further alleged that the reservist took out his service firearm and shot the suspect once in the head."

The man died on the scene.

She said investigations had revealed that there were three other reservists and two civilians present during the assault and when the suspect was shot.

"We have obtained statements from the five to establish the circumstances under which the man was shot."

She said the police reservist was taken into custody and that a case of murder was being investigated. The police reservist will appear in court on April 25.