A man has been shot dead at his sanctity home during a lockdown enforcement operation by a former policeman.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, said the former officer had shot and killed Sibusiso Amos with a shotgun in his home during hard lockdown in March 2020.

Three children who were also inside the house at the time were injured during the shooting.

“The family of Sibusiso Amos, who was fatally shot by a security officer in March 2020 at Vosloorus when Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers were enforcing Level 5 lockdown regulations, received justice following the conviction of Siphiwe George Ndlovu,” Mjonondwane said.

Ndlovu was found guilty of the lockdown murder, three counts of attempted murder and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“Amos was shot inside the yard at his home after an argument broke out between him and the EMPD officers that were chasing patrons from a nearby tavern. Three children who were in the house were also wounded during the shooting.” Mjonondwane said.

“Amos was shot at close range by live ammunition, whilst standing behind a locked burglar gate. The bullet was fired from one of the EMPD officers’ shot gun,” he said.

Ndlovu told the court that he picked up the gun soon after the officer fell down following an attack from members of the community during the lockdown operation. He then saw a scuffle inside the yard between Amos and EMPD officers. He approached and fired shots towards Amos to scare him off in order to stop the scuffle.

State advocate, Rolene Barnard, argued that Ndlovu was a former police officer, knowledgeable about gun handling and precautionary measures to take when using guns. She asked the court to take into consideration the fact that Amos had been shot at the sanctity of his own home, that he was unarmed and had not provoked the officers.

The court rejected Ndlovu’s evidence as highly improbable and accepted the evidence of state witnesses.

Judge Thifhelimbilu Mudau remarked that evidence provided by state witnesses was more reliable.

The lockdown murder case was postponed to 29 June for arguments in mitigation and aggravation of sentence.