Multiple award-winning musician Khuli Chana. (Gallo)
A case of attempted murder is being investigated after multiple award-winning rapper Khuli Chana was shot and wounded by police on Monday, Gauteng police confirmed.
Police from Bedfordview were tracking kidnappers and mistook Chana's luxury sedan to be that of the kidnappers, said spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini in a statement.
"It is alleged that as they [police] were trying to stop the vehicle. It drove away at a high speed, several shots were fired and the driver lost control … it was established that the driver had sustained gunshot wounds," said Dlamini.
The incident took place at the Caltex garage along the N1 highway in Midrand.
A case of kidnapping was reported in Bedfordview and the kidnappers demanded a ransom from the victim's family, Dlamini said.
"The family of the victim was instructed to drop the ransom money at the Caltex garage."
Bedfordview police arrived at the garage and saw Chana's vehicle, mistaking him for the kidnapper.
'Shaken by the shooting'
An internal investigation regarding the incident was being conducted, Dlamini said.
Chana, whose real name is Khulani Morule, was discharged from hospital but left shaken by the incident, his publicist Sheila Afari said.
"He is shaken by the shooting as it came out of nowhere and there was no warning from the police whatsoever. He is recovering at home."
In a short interview on Monday morning, Chana's manager Refiloe Ramogase told MetroFM that the singer will be pressing charges of attempted murder against the police.
Ramogase told MetroFM the singer was going to meet a DJ at the New Road Caltex garage early on Monday morning for a gig in Pretoria. The DJ was running late for the meeting, and they then organised to meet in Pretoria. As Chana was leaving the garage, he drove around an unmarked VW combi facing the opposite direction. Shots were allegedly fired at his car while he was driving around it.
His manager said Chana told him that six shots were fired at the passenger side of the car.
Ramogase made a point of emphasising that the shots were not aimed at the boot or wheels of the car. According to him, the police aimed to "shoot to kill".
"No one said 'stop', he [Chana] just realised what was going on [and had to stop]," he told MetroFM.
Ramogase said there were three bullet holes on the driver's window.
Chana's injuries
Chana's manager added that two officers on duty were in civilian clothing, and said that Chana told him two others were in police clothing.
The musician sustained minor injuries in the incident. Chana's arm was injured after a bullet was lodged in a finger on his right hand. One bullet also went through the back seat and broke into shrapnel and penetrated his back. – Sapa