Cape Town - A man whose wife died after allegedly being hit by a police rubber bullet has expressed his frustration at the SAPS over their failure to acknowledge their ‘actions.
Latiefa Freeman, 57, died just over a week ago in hospital after she was hit in the head with a rubber bullet as public order police officers sought to disperse two groups of children in Maneberg Avenue who were pelting each other with rocks on September 17. She would spend the next three weeks in hospital and succumbed to her injuries on October 13.
Her husband, Abdurgmaan Freeman, 57, said his wife of 40 years was on her way to her sister’s house when children started throwing stones at each other. He said the next minute police were on the scene, shooting rubber bullets to disperse the children.
His wife was struck and had, according to their grandchildren who were with her, fallen to the ground. She was rushed to hospital by members of the community who stopped a taxi in the road.
Abdurgmaan said since the incident, no officer approached him to apologies, which is all he initially wanted. “I can’t even explain how I feel, I am broken. I lost my wife because of this. First I would like to meet with him and tell him how his action made me feel, but I also want to tell him I forgive him.
“Then I want the right thing to be done. I want the person in charge that day to be charged as well, and I want that person who shot to face the consequences.”
Abdurgmaan was approached by South African Human Rights commissioner, Chris Nissen, and social justice organisation, Cape Forum.
Nissen condemned the incident and said the commission will be watching and monitoring the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on the matter.
“Law enforcement agencies including SAPS are there to serve, protect, combat and prevent crime.
“It’s unfortunate that a life is lost because of law enforcement, so as the commission we will be doing a monitoring watch on this case,” Nissen said.
Head of community activation at Cape Forum, Bernard Pieters, said they have reached out to Abdurgmaan to offer assistance.
“It’s a particularly tragic event that should never have happened.”
Human rights activist, Zona Morton vowed to stand behind the family.
“We are all equal under the law and this officer responsible for the death of Latiefah Freeman needs to be arrested,” she said.
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, said an attempted murder case will be changed to that of murder.
“The station management had made contact with her next of kin regarding the development in this case. Be advised that the investigation is conducted by IPID.”
IPID spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, however, said only if the post-mortem states that the cause of death is a gunshot wound, and that shot was fired by the police, then the charge will change to murder on their side
Cape Argus