This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/01/south-africa-police-log-brutality
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| South Africa's police log of brutality | South Africa's police log of brutality |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Log on to South Africa's Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) website and read the latest news. On Wednesday, a 38-year-old police constable appeared before Welkom district court charged with raping a 42-year-old woman. She had been arguing with her sister before the police were called. Officers found her at home, proceeded to handcuff her. They took her to a field where the constable allegedly raped her next to the police van. The constable is out on R1,500 (£110) bail. | Log on to South Africa's Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) website and read the latest news. On Wednesday, a 38-year-old police constable appeared before Welkom district court charged with raping a 42-year-old woman. She had been arguing with her sister before the police were called. Officers found her at home, proceeded to handcuff her. They took her to a field where the constable allegedly raped her next to the police van. The constable is out on R1,500 (£110) bail. |
| On 21 February, another constable was in court for another rape, this time in Boshoff, Free State. He gave his former girlfriend and other friends a lift from a tavern in a state vehicle. When the two were left alone, the car pulled over so that the victim could urinate. After a chase, the constable allegedly raped her, assaulted her and threatened to kill her when she refused to get back into the car. | On 21 February, another constable was in court for another rape, this time in Boshoff, Free State. He gave his former girlfriend and other friends a lift from a tavern in a state vehicle. When the two were left alone, the car pulled over so that the victim could urinate. After a chase, the constable allegedly raped her, assaulted her and threatened to kill her when she refused to get back into the car. |
| Murder conviction | Murder conviction |
| On 18 February, the case against police constable Hlengiwe Mkhize was wrapped up in the Pietermaritzburg high court. Mkhize was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting and killing 15-year-old Mlindeli Ngcobo. Mlindeli was riding in a car that was in an accident with the constable's. Both parties agreed to report the incident at the police station, but Mkhize fired two shots into the car and killed the teenager, who was hit in the head. She claimed it was an attempted hijacking and that she had only intended to fire warning shots, but will be sentenced on 1 March. | On 18 February, the case against police constable Hlengiwe Mkhize was wrapped up in the Pietermaritzburg high court. Mkhize was convicted of murder and attempted murder for shooting and killing 15-year-old Mlindeli Ngcobo. Mlindeli was riding in a car that was in an accident with the constable's. Both parties agreed to report the incident at the police station, but Mkhize fired two shots into the car and killed the teenager, who was hit in the head. She claimed it was an attempted hijacking and that she had only intended to fire warning shots, but will be sentenced on 1 March. |
| "The IPID is satisfied with the conviction as it sends a message to rouge [sic] police officers that they will be held accountable by the criminal justice system of our country," said the oversight body about Mkhize's conviction. | "The IPID is satisfied with the conviction as it sends a message to rouge [sic] police officers that they will be held accountable by the criminal justice system of our country," said the oversight body about Mkhize's conviction. |
| Man dragged behind police van | Man dragged behind police van |
| Only a week later, however, there is this: "IPID is investigating the death of a taxi driver at the hands of the police". According to police, Mido Macia, a 27-year-old Mozambican, was allegedly obstructing traffic in Daveyton with his Toyota taxi when they turned on their siren and asked him to move. They say he then assaulted a constable and took his gun. A warrant officer intervened and got the firearm back before driving to the police station in Macia's taxi for backup. | Only a week later, however, there is this: "IPID is investigating the death of a taxi driver at the hands of the police". According to police, Mido Macia, a 27-year-old Mozambican, was allegedly obstructing traffic in Daveyton with his Toyota taxi when they turned on their siren and asked him to move. They say he then assaulted a constable and took his gun. A warrant officer intervened and got the firearm back before driving to the police station in Macia's taxi for backup. |
| When he returned, the constable was struggling to put the suspect in the police van, say the officers. "The policemen then put the resisting suspect into the back of the police van and they took him to the police station where he was detained. The taxi driver was found dead at about 21:15 by another police officer. An inquest docket was later registered. An assault GBH docket against the deceased was also opened by the police," reads the police account. | When he returned, the constable was struggling to put the suspect in the police van, say the officers. "The policemen then put the resisting suspect into the back of the police van and they took him to the police station where he was detained. The taxi driver was found dead at about 21:15 by another police officer. An inquest docket was later registered. An assault GBH docket against the deceased was also opened by the police," reads the police account. |
| The investigator's initial statement declined to mention that Macia was tied to the police van's bench and dragged through the street. The rear doors were open as he was towed behind. Officers participated in front of dozens of people. When Macia tried to resist the pain of being dragged along the road by using his feet to lift his body off the ground, the officers involved lifted both his legs and then dropped them before the police car took off to the station. | The investigator's initial statement declined to mention that Macia was tied to the police van's bench and dragged through the street. The rear doors were open as he was towed behind. Officers participated in front of dozens of people. When Macia tried to resist the pain of being dragged along the road by using his feet to lift his body off the ground, the officers involved lifted both his legs and then dropped them before the police car took off to the station. |
| The actions of the police were a brutal attempt publicly to inflict pain and humiliation. There's no other interpretation. Dragging a person behind a car is an expression of power. Macia, while tied and being dragged at speed, was helpless and must have been terrified. | The actions of the police were a brutal attempt publicly to inflict pain and humiliation. There's no other interpretation. Dragging a person behind a car is an expression of power. Macia, while tied and being dragged at speed, was helpless and must have been terrified. |
| South Africa's Daily Sun broke the story on Thursday (on Wednesday it led with a man who eats frogs, but on Thursday it was the toast of the country's media). Witnesses told the paper that Macia had parked on the wrong side of the road and was assaulted when he argued with police. A source who saw him in the police cells told the newspaper not to be fooled by comments from the police: "These cops must not try to speak nicely to you … They killed him. They beat him up so badly in here." A witness on the street filmed the incident and gave the footage to Daily Sun. It has since been seen around the world after being posted online. | South Africa's Daily Sun broke the story on Thursday (on Wednesday it led with a man who eats frogs, but on Thursday it was the toast of the country's media). Witnesses told the paper that Macia had parked on the wrong side of the road and was assaulted when he argued with police. A source who saw him in the police cells told the newspaper not to be fooled by comments from the police: "These cops must not try to speak nicely to you … They killed him. They beat him up so badly in here." A witness on the street filmed the incident and gave the footage to Daily Sun. It has since been seen around the world after being posted online. |
| On Thursday, an IPID spokesman, Moses Dlamini, told eNews that the inquest into the action by officers had been upgraded to a criminal murder charge. He said Macia died of head wounds "and you can see then if you look at the footage how that came about", said Dlamini, adding that the incident was extremely disturbing. | On Thursday, an IPID spokesman, Moses Dlamini, told eNews that the inquest into the action by officers had been upgraded to a criminal murder charge. He said Macia died of head wounds "and you can see then if you look at the footage how that came about", said Dlamini, adding that the incident was extremely disturbing. |
| South Africa's national police commissioner Riah Phiyega used a statement to say she "strongly condemned" the act – all things considered, a rather soft approach to the visual evidence available. | South Africa's national police commissioner Riah Phiyega used a statement to say she "strongly condemned" the act – all things considered, a rather soft approach to the visual evidence available. |
| Marikana inquiry | Marikana inquiry |
| This incident is not an isolated case, either. Alongside the Daily Sun's article – "Tied up, dragged and beaten to death" – was a report from the inquiry into the deaths of 44 people during a strike at Lonmin platinum's mine in Marikana last year. Mzoxolo Magidiwana, who was shot but lived, said of the police, "I heard them celebrate as I lay on the ground after being shot … I heard the police laugh, saying, 'Even their leader, Mgcineni "Mambush" Noki, is dead.'" | This incident is not an isolated case, either. Alongside the Daily Sun's article – "Tied up, dragged and beaten to death" – was a report from the inquiry into the deaths of 44 people during a strike at Lonmin platinum's mine in Marikana last year. Mzoxolo Magidiwana, who was shot but lived, said of the police, "I heard them celebrate as I lay on the ground after being shot … I heard the police laugh, saying, 'Even their leader, Mgcineni "Mambush" Noki, is dead.'" |
| Suspicious deaths in custody | Suspicious deaths in custody |
| After Macia's death, Amnesty International said that the IPID had received 720 new cases for investigation of suspicious deaths in custody between April 2011 and March 2012. "Amnesty International urges the South African government to make a public commitment to ensure that the police stop the use of excessive force and deliberate targeted killings," said the organisation's southern Africa director, Noel Kututwa. | After Macia's death, Amnesty International said that the IPID had received 720 new cases for investigation of suspicious deaths in custody between April 2011 and March 2012. "Amnesty International urges the South African government to make a public commitment to ensure that the police stop the use of excessive force and deliberate targeted killings," said the organisation's southern Africa director, Noel Kututwa. |
| The police union Popcru said it was "mortified by these actions which demonstrate the opposite of what the men and women in blue represent". It added its support to the IPID investigation. Popcru, no doubt, would rightly be worried about the image of South Africa's police and remind us that there are law-abiding officers out there who are committed to their jobs. | The police union Popcru said it was "mortified by these actions which demonstrate the opposite of what the men and women in blue represent". It added its support to the IPID investigation. Popcru, no doubt, would rightly be worried about the image of South Africa's police and remind us that there are law-abiding officers out there who are committed to their jobs. |
| President horrified | President horrified |
| The abuse, however, has developed to levels that cannot be tolerated. South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, released a statement on Thursday sending his "heartfelt condolences" to Macia's family. | The abuse, however, has developed to levels that cannot be tolerated. South Africa's president, Jacob Zuma, released a statement on Thursday sending his "heartfelt condolences" to Macia's family. |
| "Members of the South African police service are required to operate within the confines of the law in executing their duties," said Zuma. "The visuals of the incident are horrific, disturbing and unacceptable. No human being should be treated in that manner." | "Members of the South African police service are required to operate within the confines of the law in executing their duties," said Zuma. "The visuals of the incident are horrific, disturbing and unacceptable. No human being should be treated in that manner." |
| He has asked the police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to investigate. | He has asked the police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, to investigate. |
| Police abuse – both on the streets and in the cells – calls for much more than an investigation by Mthethwa into a single incident. Officers are being charged with rape and murder, not to mention a list of other crimes, and Phiyega needs to show South Africans she can institute changes to make police accountable to the country's laws, rather than empowered to enforce their own arbitrary forms of "justice" and punishment. | Police abuse – both on the streets and in the cells – calls for much more than an investigation by Mthethwa into a single incident. Officers are being charged with rape and murder, not to mention a list of other crimes, and Phiyega needs to show South Africans she can institute changes to make police accountable to the country's laws, rather than empowered to enforce their own arbitrary forms of "justice" and punishment. |
| Unless Mthethwa, Zuma and Phiyega start to make drastic changes to the pattern of abuse in the SAPS, the country will lose hope in an improved system. With the brutal death of Macia and the scores who died at the hands of the police before him, there's certainly little hope in the system we have. | Unless Mthethwa, Zuma and Phiyega start to make drastic changes to the pattern of abuse in the SAPS, the country will lose hope in an improved system. With the brutal death of Macia and the scores who died at the hands of the police before him, there's certainly little hope in the system we have. |
| Have you been affected by a similar incident in South Africa? Please email guy.grandjean@guardian.co.uk | Have you been affected by a similar incident in South Africa? Please email guy.grandjean@guardian.co.uk |
| guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am |