By Teboho Moloi
BLOEMFONTEIN — A drug bust in the Bloemfontein CBD turned into a scene of horror on Friday, 18 September, when a 33-year old Nigerian national allegedly jumped to his death from a second-floor flat to evade police.
His lifeless body was found lying on the pavement in Douglas Street at around 11:00, shocking bystanders going about their daily errands who watched him fall from Kenlin Court.
Police confirmed the drama unfolded while members were following up on a drug-dealing investigation.
According to police spokesperson Lt Col Thabo Covane, officers had arrested one suspect for possession of drugs and were tracing the source of the drugs when the trail led them to the deceased.
When police arrived in Douglas Street, the man — unknown to them at the time — bolted into Kenlin Court, triggering a chase inside the building.
“He ran up the stairs and reached the door of a certain unit, opened and quickly locked the security door behind him. Meanwhile, the police heard people making noise from outside. When they stepped outside, they noticed that he was lying motionless on the sidewalk,” said Covane.
A security door key was found underneath his body where he fell.Covane said as police were still processing the scene, a group of Nigerian nationals arrived and accused officers of killing the man.
Police have denied any foul play and confirmed an inquest docket has been opened to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending further investigation, while police continue to probe the drug network linked to the initial arrest.
