Police probed for murder

2003-10-16 20:24

Riot Hlatshwayo

Komatipoort - Two senior Mpumalanga policemen are being investigated for allegedly beating a suspect to death.

The policemen, whose names have not yet been released, are also accused of trying to cover up the death.

Provincial police commissioner Eric Nkabinde this week launched a probe into the circumstances surrounding Ngomane's death.

Ngomane has been lying in a mortuary since September 27 after two local policemen allegedly beat him to death for rowdy behaviour associated with drunkenness.

A local ANC councillor, Amos Mlambo, blew the whistle this week alleging that Tonga police were refusing to conduct a post-mortem on Ngomane's body.

"A police officer told me that a post-mortem was not necessary because [Ngomane] died from drinking excessively," said Mlambo.

The senior officers also allegedly tried to force the family to bury Ngomane before the autopsy, said Mlambo.

A private doctor's post-mortem found that Ngomane died of internal injuries.

Nkabinde said in a statement this week that the matter was going to be thoroughly investigated.

"I shall not tolerate violence by SAPS members, the people responsible for the death of Mr Ngomane will face the full force of the law," Nkabinde said.

He added that family members suspect that the police were responsible because one of them had a uniform with blood stains.

The police detained a drunk Ngomane after he allegedly harassed people at Lebombo taxi rank on September 26.

When his family phoned to organise Ngomane's release, one of the policemen allegedly boasted that they had taught the drunk man a lesson for being aggressive.

The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) also launched its own probe on Ngomane's death.

"We are looking into the matter and have already made arrangements with our Mpumalanga representative to obtain first-hand information about the incident," said National ICD spokesperson, Steve Mabona.

- African Eye