South Africa
A KwaZulu-Natal police officer was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with the killing of three people in Shongweni near Hillcrest in Durban, police said.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Vincent Mdunge said the police officer was arrested in Pinetown by the National Intervention Unit at the offices of his attorney.
The officer, who holds the rank of sergeant, is expected to appear in the Pinetown magistrates court shortly.
It is alleged that the officer in his forties, went to a house in Shongweni and called a person to come outside around 4.15pm on Saturday.
The rest of the family became suspicious and also went outside.
He allegedly pulled out his firearm and shot at the family - four men and a woman. Three people - Sibonelo Ngcongo, Bonginkosi Ngcongo and Muzi Ngcongo - died on the scene while two were admitted to hospital.
It was initially reported that one of the two admitted to hospital had died on Sunday, however Mdunge said the person was still in a critical condition.
The Mercury newspaper reported on Wednesday that a shop owned by the police officer was burnt down.
Mdunge was quoted as saying: "It is believed the police officer's truck shop was set alight on Sunday night by angry community members who had heard about the shootings.
"Three adjoining rooms that the officer rents to people were also burnt.
"No one was injured in the fire and no arrests have been made."
Mdunge said police wanted to discourage the community from engaging in acts of this nature.
"The situation cannot be resolved by people committing more crimes."
The police officer faces three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20081106061520591C260701
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