After an altercation about her son’s alleged reckless driving, a Joburg Metro Police officer who was not on duty opened fire on a group of uniformed South African Police Service officers on Saturday evening, killing her in Soweto.
According to reports, her 27-year-old son was driving a reckless Toyota Land Cruiser, ignoring stop signs from South African Police Service (SAPS) officers, and only pulled over when he got to his Dobsonville house.
When the SAPS members attempted to arrest Linda Mthimkhulu’s son, a fight broke out between them and the JMPD officer.
Mthimkhulu, a 17-year veteran officer, is said to have taken her gun from her home and shot the officers.
The SAPS officers retaliated by firing back, leaving Mthimkhulu gravely injured.
The event was confirmed by Gauteng police spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, who also said that three people had been taken into custody: the 75-year-old mother of Mthimkhulu, her son, and a neighbor.
While her son was jailed for careless and dangerous driving, the elderly woman was placed under custody for common assault and obstructing police. Masondo acknowledged that the companion was also detained for impeding police in the course of their employment.
Police Minister Bheki Cele sent a strong message to police officers on Sunday during a press conference in Pretoria.
We want to make it very clear that no police officer should die holding a gun.
After being notified of the event on Saturday night, Phaladi Shuping, the spokeswoman for Ipid, said that they were looking into it.
