Alexandra residents give police three-day deadline to catch woman’s killer

Alexandra residents have set a three-day deadline for the local police station commander to act against those responsible for the killing of a 29-year-old woman.

According to EWN, she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between officers and alleged hijackers earlier this week on Wednesday 15 January 2020. 

Alexandra police station spokesperson Stephen Malatji in efforts to calm residents and avoid retaliation said: 

“I appeal to each and everyone in Alex to please let the law take its course so that the investigation can reveal what happened. Pointing fingers will only fuel the situation.”

Woman killed in crossfire in Alexandra

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) confirmed that a 29-year-old woman was shot and killed in the crossfire between police and suspects in Alexandra on Wednesday. 

Alexandra, informally abbreviated to Alex, is a township in Gauteng.

Police received reports of a stolen vehicle near London Road on Wednesday evening. Another bystander was critically wounded and hospitalised.

Acting National spokesperson for Ipid, Sontaga Seisa said police officers were chasing a suspicious vehicle. 

“South African police officers were chasing a suspicious vehicle within the vicinity of London Road. It is alleged that a shoot out then ensued between the police and the suspects,” said Seisa. 

“In the process, the deceased was shot and killed whilst another adult male was also shot and injured and taken to hospital for medical treatment,” he added. 

Murder could have been prevented in Alexandra shootout

The Alexandra sector policing forum said the shooting earlier this week could have been prevented if corrupt police were held accountable for their actions.

They claim the bullet that killed the woman was fired by an officer gone rogue. The forum’s chair Sandile Mavundla says the official needs to be held accountable.

“We want to see the guy in an orange uniform. He doesn’t belong in the community; he belongs in jail.”

It’s still unclear who fired the fatal shot.

As authorities work to decipher the facts, Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko has also called for restraint and says Ipid should be allowed to do its work.

Ipid investigates who fired the shot 

Seisa said that Ipid is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased.

“At this point in time, we don’t know as to whether the police firearm is the one that killed the deceased because it is alleged both the police and the suspects discharged their firearms,” he said. 

“No suspect is arrested at this stage as the investigation is ongoing,” added Seisa.