A City Law Enforcement officer, who is facing a murder charge following the fatal shooting of a homeless man, was granted R1000 bail after appearing in court on Tuesday.
Rondebosch police are investigating a murder case. The officer, Luvolwethu Kati, 27, is accused of shooting Dumisani Joxo, 38, in the face.
The shooting followed an altercation between the officer and Mr Joxo on the Liesbeek Trail, off Chester Road, on Sunday, said Rondebosch police spokesman Warrant Officer Lyndon Sisam.
Two law enforcement officers had responded to a complaint, at 10am, about vagrants making a fire near the railway line.
“The officers instructed the vagrants to put out the fire on arrival, but they refused. An argument ensued between the vagrants and the officers. The officer pushed over the pot of mielie meal that was on the fire at the time,” he said.
More vagrants had joined the row, and, feeling threatened, the officer had fired the shot to protect himself, said Warrant Officer Sisam.
Ambulance personnel declared Mr Joxo dead on the scene.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said Mr Kati had appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, charged with murder. “The accused was released on bail of R1 000, and his case was postponed to April this year for further investigation.”
Homeless activist Carin Rhoode visited the scene of the shooting on Monday to speak to the other homeless people there.
“We could feel the sadness around the site, and friends of Dumisani say he was a good man,” she said.
Ndifuna Ukwazi spokesperson Yusrah Bardien said the homeless in Chester Road were demanding justice, and they wanted the accused to be suspended immediately, a thorough investigation into the Law Enforcement unit’s legality and its training practices, and the City to cover the cost of Mr Joxo’s funeral in the Eastern Cape.
City spokesman Luthando Tyhalibongo confirmed the shooting incident involving a Law Enforcement officer.
“The City views the incident in a very serious light and will cooperate with the investigation, where needed.”
The City would also follow the prescribed labour-related laws and policies applicable to the case, he said.
