Johannesburg - A policeman who died in an alleged high speed chase in Johannesburg has been identified as Constable Goodman Lubisi, Gauteng police said on Friday.
Lubisi, 31, was based at the Sandton police station, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.
He was reportedly killed when a motorist raced away while two policemen were searching an Audi R8 for drugs on Rivonia Road in Sandown, in the early hours of Thursday.
When they found a small amount of dagga, the driver apparently sped off with Lubisi still inside the car. Other officer gave chase in a police van.
“The Audi driver lost control in Rosebank and hit a tree, a wall and a light pole,” Dlamini said.
The driver was also killed. The Star named him as Areff Haffejee.
On Friday, The Star quoted an eyewitness, who was driving on the same road, as saying: “I don't buy that story that this was a cop kidnapped by a drug dealer.
“I looked that guy (the policeman) in the eyes shortly before he died and he was very relaxed in the passenger seat.
“He had his elbow resting out the window, his seat was rolled back a bit and he was chilling,” the witness, identified only as Sly, told the newspaper.
He said it did not look like the police van was chasing the Audi. Its siren and its blue lights were not switched on.
Dlamini said the reports would form part of police investigations. - Sapa