By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
An off-duty Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer Linda Mthimkhulu has been shot dead during an altercation with SAPS officers outside her Dobsonville home on Saturday evening.
The incident happened just after 22:00 on Saturday, 6 April.
Fullview understands an argument ensued as the police officers attempted to arrest the son for reckless driving.
Police were patrolling in Dobsonville when they spotted a silver-grey Land Cruiser driving recklessly.
The members tried to stop the vehicle, but it did not stop. Eventually, it stopped at a house on Monaise Street in Dobsonville.
The officers approached the male driver, who was alone, and tried to place him under arrest. However, when they wanted to put him in the police van, family members approached and interfered with the police.
The mother of the driver, who is a member of JMPD, came out and argued with the police officers.
This led to Mthimkhulu, an officer for 17 years, fetching her firearm in the house and firing at the officers.
The SAPS officers fired back and fatally wounded Mthimkhulu.
The killing of the metro police officer is now subject of an investigation by the police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigating Directorate (Ipid), as the metro police officer died as a result of police action.
Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed they were investigating the incident after it was reported to them on Saturday night.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the incident and said three people were arrested.
Mthimkhulu’s 75-year-old mother, her son and a neighbour, were arrested by police officers.
The pensioner was arrested for common assault and interfering with police,while the son was arrested for reckless and negligent driving, while the friend was arrested for interfering with police while conducting their duties, Masondo added.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the JMPD was expressing its “deep sadness over the passing of officer Linda Mthimkhulu”, who joined the division in 2007, and said she was off-duty at the time of the incident.
“The matter is currently being investigated by both the SAPS and IPID, and as such, the JMPD can not provide further comments, “he said.