PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT SHOT IN NECK, DIES

Police captured addressing residents after shooting and killing Mkhwanazi on Friday at his homestead.

HLATIKHULU – Was it a case of police negligence? A Mkhwanazi family has been left feeling aggrieved and fuming after their 54-year-old male member, who is a psychiatric patient, was shot and killed by a contingent of police officers.

The man was reportedly shot on the neck at close range and what has angered the family is that this happened in front of them and their neighbours.
More bizarre is that the police chose to use a live bullet as opposed to a tranquiliser that is normally used to calm violent patients.

Makhenikha Mkhwanazi, a father of six children and an ex-miner, was shot at and killed by police at his home at Mdabula, in Hlatikhulu, on Friday afternoon.
The family has argued that the deceased was a known patient to the police and it was not the first time they were called to transport him for treatment after exhibiting violent behaviour.
He was suffering from epilepsy.

Loss of consciousness

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

So sad is the family such that they are regretting their decision of calling and asking the police for assistance in transporting the deceased to hospital for treatment. 

Yesterday, the police told the Times SUNDAY that the shot was fired in an attempt to scare the deceased who had become too violent, but the bullet accidentally went to his neck.

Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati has referred to the incident as ‘kuphampalata kwesibhamu’.
She said a police inquiry file has been opened and the incident will be investigated and addressed accordingly.

no tranquilisers

When asked as to why the police used live bullets on patients under psychiatric treatment, Vilakati said they do not have tranquilisers as they were not provided for by the Ministry of Health.

According to www.pharmaceuticaljournal.com, common medications that can ease agitation include: Medicines that treat paranoia and confusion, called neuroleptics or antipsychotics.

Selby Mkhwanazi, an elderly son of the deceased, said what has also left the family in frustration is that after the shooting, police decided to take away the motionless body without inviting the family members.
“They pretended to be transporting our father to the Hlatikhulu hospital as if he was still alive. They did not come back to inform the family about what doctors said.

‘‘When we called today (yesterday) to ask about the whereabouts of our father, the police told us he had since passed away and was in the mortuary. All the processes were done in the absence of any family member,” Selby said.

He said at first, three police officers came to the homestead to try and take the deceased to hospital. However, their father overpowered the three hence, they called for backup.

“After calling for backup, two bakkies with 10 officers came in. They instructed our mother to stay inside the police car as they tried to apprehend our father. After firing two shots, they then shot  him  on the neck ,” narrated Selby.
Nester Shoba, wife to the deceased, said when police shot at her husband, she was seated inside the police car.

“My husband was armed with an axe and was showing violent behaviour. However, we were not expecting that he would be killed by the people we had asked help from. As a family, we are very saddened at the manner in which he was killed and we now believe we should have seeked  help elsewhere to apprehend him. We regret requesting the police  for assistance,” she said.

formally lodge a complaint
This publication also gathered that yesterday the Mkhwanazi family met with the Hlatikhulu Station Commander to formally lodge a complaint about the shooting and killing of their f

ather.
It was gathered that the meeting could not yield any fruits as the family was not satisfied by the police’s explanation regarding the incident.
“We have since been requested to come for another meeting tomorrow (today) where we will meet with Shiselweni Regional Commander Wendy Hleta,” confirmed Selby.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Vilakati later sent a WhatsApp message to this reporter saying “It was a very unfortunate situation but we have opened an inquiry to investigate the circumstances”. 
She said when the deceased got shot, he was threatening to hack an officer who was already lying down after falling during the skirmish.
Asked how then an officer lying on the ground could manage to shoot someone in the neck, Vilakati said it was not clear who fired the shot exactly as information reaching her office was that everybody on the scene shouted that a shot should be fired before the deceased could injure the officer down.

Defusing violent situation
Neliswa Mabaso, Health Administrator at the Psychiatric Hospital, said patients are sedated not shot at.
“Even though we have not received any report that one of our patients has been shot at but we have a special way of dealing with such. We sedate them and place them under observation,” she said.
She said usually police patients are brought by the police to the hospital and they deal with their cases upon arrival.
Dealing with an aggressive patient takes care, judgment and self-control.
Remain calm, listen to what they are saying, ask open-ended questions.
Reassure them and acknowledge their grievances.
Provide them with an opportunity to explain what has angered them. Understanding the source of their frustration may help you find a solution.
Maintain eye contact, but not prolonged.
Keep an adequate distance from the patient, but keep away from corners. It is helpful if the furniture in your room is arranged in such a way that you can easily leave, but the patient doesn›t feel trapped.
If the patient has a weapon, ask them to put it down. Don’t ask them to hand it over.
Use the panic button or call for help.
Leave the room and call security or the police.
If possible, move the patient to an area away from public view.

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