IPID Probes Fatal Shooting of Diepsloot Teen; Family Disputes SAPS Robbery Claims Amid Allegations of ‘Drunk’ Officer

IPID probes the death of 16-year-old Thabani Mazibuko in Diepsloot. Family disputes SAPS robbery claims, alleging the officer was drunk.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 31, 2026, 3:30 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Eyewitness News

Conflicting Accounts of a Fatal Encounter

A community in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, is in mourning and outrage following the fatal shooting of a teenager near the local police station on Saturday night. The deceased, identified as 16-year-old Thabani Mazibuko, was allegedly shot by a police officer who witnesses claim was visibly drunk at the time. According to family accounts, Mazibuko was not a criminal but was attempting to help a friend who was being assaulted when the officer discharged his firearm.

SAPS Alleges Attempted Robbery

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has presented a starkly different version of events. Gauteng police officials stated that the officer was acting in self-defense during an attempted robbery by the teenager and an accomplice. SAPS reported that during the scuffle, one officer was shot and another was stabbed, leading to the use of lethal force. They maintain that a "second suspect" fled the scene and remains at large. These claims have been met with fierce denial from the Mazibuko family, who described Thabani as a disciplined youth incapable of such violence.

IPID Takes Over the Crime Scene

As tensions boil over in the township, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has stepped in to lead the inquiry. IPID spokesperson Lizzy Shuping confirmed on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, that investigators have already reconstructed the crime scene and are currently interviewing witnesses to reconcile the conflicting reports. "We have visited and engaged with the family and are currently interviewing other witnesses," Shuping stated, emphasizing that the directorate is treating the matter with high priority.