The Modise family from Soweto demands accountability following the tragic death of Thapelo Modise, who allegedly shot himself while in police custody at Dobsonville Police Station.
Arrested at a roadblock, Thapelo was meant to undergo a blood alcohol test, but reportedly used his own firearm to end his life, raising serious questions about police procedures and safety protocols.
Family seeks answers after Fikile Mbalula's bodyguard allegedly shoots himself at police station
According to ZiMoja, the Modise family in Soweto is demanding answers after their son, Thapelo Modise, allegedly shot and killed himself in custody at the Dobsonville Police Station last week Friday.
Thapelo was arrested at a roadblock in Dobsonville and taken to the police station where he was supposed to be tested for alcohol in his blood. However, after the police left him with a nurse at the station, he allegedly took out a gun he had on him and shot himself dead..
The family said they wants answers because by law, the police were supposed to disarm Thapelo when they arrested him.
IPID spokesperson Pheladi Shuping confirmed to ZiMoja, the incident and said around 22:00pm on Friday, JMPD members were conducting roadblock in Dobsonville around 10pm on Friday night and they arrested an African male and took him to Dobsonville police station to detain him and take blood samples. "While they were waiting for the nurse to draw blood samples from the suspect, the African male requested to speak to a Colonel Moagi, and he informed him that he is a bodyguard of ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
Immediately after talking to him, he allegedly took out his firearm and shot himself. He shot himself in front of two other suspects arrested for drunken driving waiting to be drawn blood, three JMPD officers and Colonel Moagi. The deceased was declared dead by paramedics," said Shuping. The deceased was taken to Diepkloof mortuary.
