Cops sued after 'man killed for playing Ludo'

22 June 2010, 08:35

By Zelda Venter
High Court Reporter

Police are facing a R1.6-million damages claim from the wife of a Tembisa man shot dead when officers confronted a group playing a board game called "Ludo".

Selina Msimang said in papers before the Pretoria High Court that her husband, Abe Mbedia, had been shot without reason by the police on September 12, 2008.

The police say the bullet was fired in warning when one of the people tried to flee.

Msimang said her husband had been employed and supported her and their daughter.

She said the shooting took place in full view of members of the public.

She blamed the police for the death of her husband, saying they had been negligent in firing shots without regard to her husband's welfare.

She said there had been other options open to the police if they wanted to apprehend the person they were chasing.

She claimed damages for the future loss of support for her and her daughter, as well as for the R36 508 she paid towards the funeral costs.

A man - who is only known as Jeffrey - said in a statement that the police stopped alongside him and his friends as they were playing "Ludo" next to the road. They were told to stop as it was illegal to play for money.

Jeffrey said he put down the dice and an officer asked him why he was looking at him.

"He accused me of being stubborn and asked me: 'Do you know I can beat you up?' He then slapped me in the face."

He had tried to block the blows and before he knew what was going on, the policeman had sprayed pepper into his face, Jeffrey said. He tried to run away and heard one of the policemen asking him whether he knew the police could shoot him.

"I asked him, 'Whatever for?'

"He took out his firearm. I then heard a shot. I thought I had been shot and tried to feel whether I was bleeding."

When he realised he had not been wounded, he fled.

He later heard that his friend, Mbedia, had been shot dead, Jeffrey said.

The police say that they told the men it was illegal to play the board game, but the group did not stop. They told the police "they were not afraid of young policemen".

It is alleged one of the men pelted the police with stones and that one of the officers, in a bid to arrest the fleeing man, fired a warning shot.

The matter has been postponed indefinitely.

This article was originally published on page 4 of The Pretoria News on June 22, 2010

The Star

Comments by Sonny

The state should pay dearly for the loss of life here!

The evidence will decide on the amount!