Coronavirus: South African policeman arrested for killing man who broke lockdown rules
- Victim was fatally shot after officers followed him from bar to house, watchdog says
- Security forces condemned for heavy handed enforcement actions after videos show civilians made to squat or roll on ground
South Africa’s police watchdog said on Monday it was investigating an officer for allegedly killing a man who defied coronavirus lockdown regulations.
Police on patrol in Vooslorus, a working-class suburb east of Johannesburg, are said to have followed a man from a bar to a house, having broken the no-liquor rules.
“It is alleged that the deceased was followed to his veranda … where he was fatally shot,” said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in a statement.
Three children aged between five and 11 years were also wounded during the attack which occurred on Sunday.
The policeman and a private security guard have been arrested for murder.
The arrest came as the defence minister on Monday condemned alleged heavy-handedness by security forces deployed to enforce the coronavirus lockdown.