By Zavela Makwabe
A drama that unfolded in Mthatha’s Madeira Police Station on Sunday night ended with a dead man on the floor.
An unnamed 31-year-old man went on a rampage, stabbing his own mother, cousin and another relative before charging into the police station brandishing his knife.
Police allege that he burst into their premises hurling insults and charging at officers with his weapon. The officers at the scene shot him dead.
The incident, currently being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), allegedly took place after six in the evening on Sunday.
Officers on the scene have received counselling.
On Monday, police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said the investigation revealed that before the incident at the station, the suspect stabbed his three relatives at his home and robbed one their handbags which contained money and other items including cell phones.
“These items and bank cards were recovered by the police and positively identified by members of the family,” said Kinana.
While the cousin is said to have been hospitalised by the stabbing, the current condition of the other two victims remains unknown.
Provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, has expressed shock at what she called “an unprovoked attack on SAPS members”, and urged all police officers in stations around the province “to exercise extreme vigilance during the performance of their duties to serve communities”.
A case of attempted murder has since been opened as well as an inquest for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, which will be handled by the IPID.
None of the police officers involved in the incident were injured.
Pictured above: Madeira Police Station in Mthatha, Eastern Cape
Image source: Facebook
