A police officer has been arrested on allegations of murder. SAPS were conducting patrols in Somerset West during the early hours of the morning on Boxing Day when they spotted a group of four people – two males and two females on the R44 road. Officers then requested that they conduct a search, to which the group complied. The group was then told to go directly home. However, they explained that they were on their way to buy electricity at the nearby petrol station.

According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the police officers allegedly didn’t listen to them and the group of four were adamant that they need to buy electricity. One of the police officers then took out his firearm and opened fire, killing one of them. The officer who opened fire was arrested and will appear in the local magistrate’s court today, on charges of murder, illegal possession of ammunition and assault.