UPDATED: Police call for calm over Diepsloot protest action following police officer's death

Gauteng Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has noted "with concern" posts on social media where members of the community in Diepsloot are mobilised to embark on a "shut-down... to boycott those who are mostly involved in comitting crime in particular foreigners within the area." 

According to the police's Mathapelo Peters, this call is then attributed to the murder of Detective Captain Oupa Matjie, who was fatally shot while in pursuit of suspects last Friday in Diepsloot.

"Public order police have since the early hours of this morning been on high alert monitoring the situation and dispersing groups who had barricaded some main routes in the area, including the William Nicol and the R551 roads," says Peters. 

On Thursday morning, motorists were urged to avoid the R511 to Diesploot as protest action flared up. 

According to the JMPD's Wayne Minnaar, "The R511 is currently closed to traffic."

He notes: "There is no access from William Nicol drive or from the N14.

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According to Minnaar, there are rocks and burning tyres on the R511 and Ingonyama Drive, which is the main road leading into Diespsloot.

"Motorists are advised to avoid that area for now," says Minnaar. 

Peters says that at about 8am on Thursday morning, a group went to the police station demanding to see the suspect behind Matjie's murder. 

The suspect is expected to appear today before the Randburg Magistrate Court.

"The Provincial Commissioner has called for calm and restraint, and is calling for members of the public to allow the law to take its course," said Peters. 

"It is...important that the suspect's appearance before Court be secured and that it should not be jeopardised in any manner so that the suspect faces the full might of the law," said Lieutenant General Mawela, urging the community to be mindful of the law and due processes.

According to the police's Brenda Muridili, Matjie and a colleague, a detective sergeant, were tracing suspects wanted on a case of attempted murder and house robbery last Friday when the spotted five suspects. 

"The detectives called crime prevention members for backup while approaching the suspects. The suspects noticed the police and started running in different directions, one of them firing at the police," says Muridili. 

Matjie was fatally shot in the incident.