Motorist shot at police station

An incident outside Kempton Park police station where a police officer allegedly shot and killed a 45-year-old woman is said not to have been sparked by a car accident.

An eyewitness told Sowetan yesterday that a shot was fired at the woman before her car collided with the officer's car.

"I heard a gunshot then a loud bang. A tall black policeman got out of his car pointing a gun at the driver of a VW Golf," the eyewitness said.

He said the officer was saying something but he could not hear what he said.

The eyewitness said the officer pulled Jeanette Odendaal out of her car and put her on the pavement.

This version contrasted with that given by the police, who claim the officer was inside the station when he heard a loud bang.

Lieutenant Colonel Tshisikhawe Ndou said once outside, the 38-year-old sergeant noticed the woman had crashed her car into a parked duty vehicle.

But the eyewitness said the cars were driving in the same direction before a shot was fired.

"I was at the police station to collect a car that needed panel beating. I was about 500 metres away from the incident and saw clearly what happened.

"I think something else sparked the shooting and definitely it was not the collision," he said.

Police did not allow reporters to view the cars.

Odendaal's family, who live not far from the station, said they were still in shock and could not comment.

The officer was arrested and will appear in court tomorrow.

The Independent Complaints Directorate spokesperson Moses Dlamini said: "It is not clear at this stage what the deceased was doing at the police station".

The DA said it was dismayed to learn of a second death after Andries Tatane who died two weeks ago in Ficksburg at the hands of the police.

DA Shadow minister of police Dianne Kohler-Barnard said any police service should work in the best interests of the people it serves to protect them and not to work against them.