A former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) branch chairperson in Esikhawini, outside Empangeni, was shot dead by police inside his house on Saturday afternoon, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said.
“Our comrade, Qinisani Gwala, was shot dead by the police last night inside his house. We condemn the incident,” Thulani Mashaba, ANC chairperson in the North Coast region, said on Sunday.
He said Gwala had been ANCYL branch chairperson for a long time.
“He was at the tribal court when he was taken by the police. They took him to his home where he was shot dead,” said Mashaba.
Return fire
He did not understand why Gwala was shot, saying he had cooperated with the police when they took him. However, police say Gwala (36) fired several shots at police from a window before officers returned fire.
Police arrested Gwala on Saturday morning at Mabuyeni Reserve in Esikhawini, Brigadier Phindile Radebe said.
Gwala was wanted for the murder of Eshowe police officer, Captain Kevin Marallich (53) who was killed on August 28 last year. He was out on bail for possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He asked to go home with the police to collect his identity document.
While he was inside his room, Gwala used a .38 revolver to fire several shots at the police through the window. They returned fire and shot him dead, Radebe said.
Radebe said police had found two unlicensed firearms with Gwala when he was killed.
“He was shot after he shot at the police.”
Investigation
Mashaba said Gwala had been separated from his brother before he was shot.
“They put them in different houses. We really don’t understand why he was killed.”
Mashaba said police were tasked with protecting citizens and said that if Gwala was shot by police members it revealed “a serious challenge in our society”.
The KwaZulu-Natal branch of the ANC called for an investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) into Gwala’s death.
“This incident, if not properly investigated, will pose a threat of polarising the relationship between the community and the police,” he said.
Mashaba extended the party’s condolences to Gwala’s friends, family, colleagues and community. — Sapa