The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating a case of murder where a civilian allegedly died at the hands of the police on Wednesday night during a police operation in Soweto. The mother of the deceased, Busisiwe Sibeko, said she heard the police ask her son about his whereabouts on the day of a heist that took place in Pretoria in February.

There are also allegations that Bafana Sibeko was killed because there are rumours that he was involved in the murder of his best friend Jabu Zwane, who was shot while leaving a night club in Dobsonville early last month. Speaking to ZiMoja, Bafana's brother Zithulele Sibeko said he had just come back from work and watched a movie before dosing off around 11pm, when he suddenly heard voices of strangers inside the yard. He said before he could get out of bed, his door opened and men who said they were cops stormed in and ordered him to get dressed before cuffing him. "One of the white policemen who were there assaulted me while others were busy assaulting my brother." He says that the police asked his brother about a gun they said he had. "I don't know my brother to be involved in activities that involve guns but the police insisted that Bafana gives them the gun. Suddenly they took me to our backroom storage and they searched for the gun, but they found nothing. They threw me on the floor and shortly after that they suddenly had a rifle or AK-47 firearm which they claimed they had found and claimed that it belonged to my brother. I also observed that they were passing the rifle around without wearing any gloves. Then one guy put in on the floor and wiped it." Zithulele said.

Zithulele added that the police persisted and demanded that Bafana gives them the other gun which he told them he didn't have. He said the police went on to show Bafana a picture and asked if it was not him, which he said it wasn't. "After that, they removed my handcuffs and ordered me to get inside my room. Before that they searched my room again saying there could be more guns. While I was still sitting on the floor outside, one of the cops fetched water in a 20 litre bucket and another one fetched a plastic bag inside the house and went to my brother's room. They closed the door but I could hear him screaming and crying. He even screamed my mother's name and shouted that her is dying. He told them that he knew nothing. They even took all our phones, even now we don't have them they left with them," Zithulele said, adding that after that, there was a sudden silence and that's when he decided to peep and noticed that the police were walking out one by one.

Zithulele said he went to peep through the storage window and could see that Bafana was lying motionless. He said he yelled to his mother and told her that the police had killed Bafana. "When we tried to open his door, it was locked, so my youngest brother kicked the door open and we saw him lying there dead. I went outside to confront the police and saw more than 10 unmarked cars. I asked them why they killed him because they found the gun they were looking for and they didn't answer me," he said. Bafana's mother, Busisiwe, said all she needs now is justice for her son and for his killers to be held accountable. Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, confirmed that they are investigating a case of murder that emanates from an incident that took place on Wednesday. "It is alleged that the police were following up on information but in the process a civilian unfortunately lost his life. The matter was reported to IPID and they are currently busy with the investigation," Shuping said.