The family of JMPD officer Sibusiso Zikalala has asked the public to refrain from spreading video of him being shot.
Zikalala was reportedly shot and murdered by a SAPS officer in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. He was laid to rest over the weekend in Soweto.
Videos of the event were uploaded on social media, showing two males fighting. Both men were said to be off duty.
At his burial, his family appealed with the public not to re-share or publish recordings, claiming that they are traumatising the family, particularly his children.
“There’s nothing we can do at this stage because the video has already gone viral.
“We are waiting for the investigation to be concluded. Everybody is making up their own assumptions about what happened on that day. Nobody knows what happened,” said the family.
Zikalala’s sister, Lindiwe Zikalala, told TimesLIVE it was unfortunate that her brother’s death was a trending topic on social media.
“There’s a lot of speculations to the story. Whatever they saw was only one side. At the end of the day, there’s not much we can do about social media because this matter is out of our control. People will decide what they want to believe but the truth will prevail and come out.
“The videos are trending and people are saying stuff about my brother and they forget that this is somebody’s son, brother, and husband,” Lindiwe said.
Metro police spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the department was saddened at the loss.
“He had served the department well. He was working in the K9 unit where they deal with high-profile cases which involve syndicates and drug-related matters. He did his best to serve the residents of Johannesburg with dedication. We are saddened by his passing,” said Fihla.
