File
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has welcomed the sentence imposed on an Eastern Cape VIP protection officer for killing a man who attacked him in 2017.
IPID spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, said Sergeant Anthony Balfour was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years imprisonment for shooting a man in Qonce (formerly King Williams Town) who attacked him at an ATM.
“In May 2017, Sergeant Anthony Balfour (39), was at the Capitec ATM in King William's Town, when he was attacked and stabbed by Anathi Qabisisa, on the left arm, face and head.
“Sergeant Balfour then went to his car, took out his firearm and started firing at Qabisisa, who ran away but fell to the ground,” he said.
Shuping said Balfour then approached Qabisisa “and shot him on the neck while he was lying down, and no longer posing any threat to him”.
The incident was reported to IPID for investigation, and the docket was handed to the senior prosecutor who decided that Balfour should be prosecuted for murder.
“Eight years of his sentence were suspended for a period of five years. He will effectively serve seven years in prison,” Shuping said.
