Police to pay R19m after man left quadriplegic

A Soshanguve man will receive R19.2m in damages from the police after he was left a quadriplegic when police fired shots at his hijackers.

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Pretoria - A Soshanguve, North of Pretoria, man is set on receiving R19.2 million in damages from the police after he was left a quadriplegic after the police fired shots at his hijackers and wounded him as a result.

Mandla Mnisi was left totally disabled after his vehicle was riddled with bullets – 45 in total.

He claimed more than R24 million in damages in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, from Police Minister Nathi Nhleko, in his official capacity.

The court this week ordered the minister to pay 35-year-old Mnisi R16.7 million for past and future medical expenses. This is apart from the earlier interim payment of R2.5m the minister was ordered to make to him.

Mnisi had parked his vehicle along a street in Sunnyside, Pretoria, early in the evening of August 15, 2011, while he and a friend were speaking inside the vehicle.

Three armed robbers approached them and ordered Mnisi to get into the back seat, while his female friend was told to remain in the back front seat. He was flanked by two of the robbers in the back seat.

They sped off and drove for some time, before he heard police sirens. The robbers did not stop and the police opened fire. Mnisi said many shots were fired by the police, but he could not recall the robbers shooting back.

They fatally wounded the driver and one of the robbers, while he was hit in the knee and back.

He was immediately taken to hospital, where he had spent about a month. He was rendered a quadriplegic after his spine was injured by the bullets.

Mnisi said the police were negligent, as they did not attempt to stop the vehicle by shooting at its tyres. They in stead fired directly at the occupants.

The police initially denied liability but later conceded it was liable to pay damages.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

Pretoria News