Riot police had to be called in to disperse a group of about 40 men attempting to storm the Durban Central Police station after a foreign national was shot during a scuffle with detectives.
Police spokeswoman Captain Nqobile Gwala said on Friday that a case of common robbery had been opened, as well as an inquest docket.
She said that two detectives investigating a robbery case had on Thursday evening gone to St Andrews Street in Durban with a suspect, who was to point out where he had sold the phone.
Upon arrival, the two officers and the suspect were surrounded and attacked by a group of men. During the struggle a shot was fired, fatally injuring one of the men believed to be a foreign national.
“The members had to leave the area as it was volatile and a group of people then followed the SAPS (South African Police Service) members to Durban Central SAPS,” she said.
Shortly afterwards a group of men, estimated to be about 40, tried to enter the police station.
The Public Order Policing units were called in and they dispersed the group.
The wounded man was taken to hospital, where he died. One of the detectives was also injured and taken to hospital.
Gwala said the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) had been informed about the shooting and was investigating.
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