A local businessman who survived a shooting incident in Pinetown is calling for urgent intervention from the country’s top police official, raising concerns about what he describes as deliberate delays in internal disciplinary proceedings against the officers implicated in the case.
Thabiso Ngcobo, who narrowly escaped with his life after being shot at while driving on the M13 in May last year, has instructed his legal team to approach National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, as well as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
"I am not happy with how things are unfolding in the internal hearing," Ngcobo said. "I feel like we are sitting with people who are purposely delaying the process because they do not want the truth to be spoken."
Ten police officers have been charged in connection with the case and are expected to return to court later this month for a pre-trial hearing. Ngcobo, who was scheduled to testify this week, said the internal disciplinary hearing was once again postponed.
"We encountered the same problems in November when I was meant to testify in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court," he explained. "One of the issues was that the accused officers claimed they feared for their safety because I was accompanied by security. That’s ironic, considering I’m testifying that they were the ones who shot at me."
Ngcobo has maintained that he will continue to push for accountability, and has vowed not to be silenced despite the repeated setbacks.