A Joburg Metro police officer facing a murder charge for fatally shooting a motorist while offduty is appearing in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Friday for a bail hearing.

The officer was arrested on Thursday, October 3, after he opened fire and fatally shot a motorist who allegedly attempted to disarm him following an altercation.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Sontaga Siesa confirmed the officer was in court for his bail hearing. Ipid was spearheading investigations following the shooting which happened around 7.15am in South Africa Road in Cosmo City.

JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minaar said the officer was driving a white Golf when he made a u-turn in the road, nearly colliding with a blue Nissan Almera.

“The driver of the blue Almera chased behind the Golf and there were words exchanged, and the occupants of the Almera tried to disarm the off-duty officer.”

The officer used his service pistol to shoot at the Almera, Minaar said.

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