The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) is investigating two more killings following a police raid that turned violent at Matsulu outside Nelspruit.
"Yes, I know about the two bodies found at Matsulu. I have just received the report from the police and investigators have been dispatched there," the ICD's Mackenzie Tsimane said. "I do not know what happened," he said.
Mpumalanga police said the Matsulu community alleged that the two were shot dead by police at the weekend when a crime prevention operation turned violent.
"We were raiding taverns for non-compliance to the law, but the patrons started throwing bottles at the police when they were asked to be searched," Senior Superintendent Sibongile Nkosi said.
Police had to use rubber bullets to calm the crowd. "Both bodies were found with bullet wounds. One was found dead near a tavern and the other died in hospital."
Nkosi said even though it remained unclear exactly what happened, the community alleged that the two were shot dead by police during the violence.
In a separate case in Pretoria, the ICD is investigating the killing of a man by police in Atteridgeville on Saturday. The man was shot dead, allegedly by a police officer who went to
the man's house to question him. Kgothatso Ndobe was reportedly polishing his shoes when police arrived at his home.
The Sowetan newspaper reported on Monday that Ndobe's family and friends said he panicked when he saw the police because he was smoking dagga. He allegedly ran and a police officer fired a shot that hit him in the head. Moments later, he was found dead inside a drain.
The Young Communist League said it was "repulsed and dismayed" by the shooting.
"Ndobe is only the latest victim of a society whose idea of solving social problems is through wielding the barrel of the gun," it said in a statement. It said the ICD was a "toothless body" given the increase in the number of deaths while in police custody and due to police action.
The ICD also confirmed on Monday that two Pretoria policemen had been arrested for allegedly shooting dead a street vendor after refusing to pay him.
"Two off-duty police constables were under the influence of alcohol when they allegedly shot and killed a vendor around 4am on Sunday," the ICD's Moses Dlamini said earlier.
The officers, stationed at Pretoria Central police station, were on their way from a pub to the police barracks at the time.
"The cops allegedly came across a vendor at the corners of Bosman and Church streets, and started eating the foodstuff he sold. They refused to pay," said Dlamini.
After a fight ensued, they allegedly shot the vendor dead.
