Popcru defends police officer who pulled trigger in Misty Hills shooting

The incident, which was caught on camera, saw a man shot in the head, allegedly by a police officer, during an argument at the Muldersdrift hotel, west of Johannesburg.

In a video shared on social media, the half-naked guest can be seen shouting and swearing at police before being shot point-blank in the head by one of the officers.

The victim is in a coma.

Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo believes the police’s actions were completely justified.

“The officers found their lives were in danger and acted accordingly, which must be deemed as justifiable. As a union, we stand firmly against any form of brutality, be it against civilians or law enforcement agencies.

“We urge community members to cooperate with law enforcement officers as and when they carry out their duties and strive to build common working relations that ensure we collectively address the challenges around violent crimes that have marred our communities.”

But criminal lawyer and firearm expert Jacques Botha doesn’t believe the officers acted within the law.

“The police officers present had every opportunity to control the situation, if necessary, dominate the situation. They could have simply surrounded the guy, then he wouldn’t have had the chance to take a firearm from another police officer. 

"This situation was allowed to escalate because of incompetent police officers, they shouldn’t have allowed it to get to this stage.”