A thirst for booze has led to a Port Elizabeth man being shot in the shoulder and dozens of Joubertina residents attacking the police after they confiscated 300l of a home-made concoction.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reimposed a ban on alcohol sales from December 29 as part of the restrictions to help the country curb a resurgence of the coronavirus.
The man was shot when two people entered his Motherwell home yesterday searching for alcohol.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the shooting occurred in Ngqika Street, NU2.
Naidu said the 54-year-old man and a friend, 35, had been sleeping when two intruders kicked open the kitchen door and demanded the booze.
“They demanded alcohol from them and when they were informed that there was no alcohol, one suspect tried to fire a shot at the victim.
“However, the firearm jammed and the suspects fled.
A few minutes later, the intruders returned and once again demanded alcohol.
They were again told there was no alcohol at the house.
“This time two shots were fired, one hitting the complainant in the left shoulder,” Naidu said.
The suspects fled and a case of attempted murder is under investigation.
Naidu said though there was a tavern behind the house, the two house occupants had nothing to do with the business.
Almost 200km away, police were attacked by a mob of about 100 on Saturday when they confiscated 300l of illicit brew in Joubertina.
Police spokesperson Captain Khaya Tonjeni said the police had been following up on information that people were selling some kind of concoction at a house in the Louterwater area.
Tonjeni said two people, aged 30 and 44, had been arrested for selling the illegal brew.
As the police were about to leave, however, the mob started lobbing stones at them.
“Fortunately, no-one was injured, but the damage to [the] police vehicle is estimated to be about R50,000,” Tonjeni said.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga condemned the incident.
Nine people were arrested and are expected to appear in the Joubertina Magistrate’s Court today on charges of public violence.
“We condemn the attack in the strongest terms — we will not allow callous and despicable acts of violence against our members while executing their duties,” Ntshinga said.
“The supremacy of the law and those executing their legal responsibilities must be respected.”
HeraldLIVE
