Cele, deputy cop minister in Ficksburg

2011-04-19 14:21

Bloemfontein - National police chief General Bheki Cele and deputy minister of police Makhotso Sotyu are in Ficksburg to visit the family of Andries Tatane, a departmental spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

Spokesperson for Sotyu, Nomsa Hani, said it was decided that the ministry, with the national commissioner, would visit Tatane’s family.

She said it was the department’s responsibility to support the family in a time of grief.

Tatane collapsed and died after he was shot and beaten, allegedly by police officers, during a service delivery protest in the area last week.

The news footage of the incident has led to a huge negative reaction towards the police.

Case goes to SAHRC

Meanwhile, a formal complaint has been lodged with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) about the "excessive and unjustified" use of force against Tatane.

The Council for the Advancement of the SA Constitution (Casac) said on Tuesday that it wanted the SAHRC to investigate whether this use of force contributed to Tatane's death.

Casac wanted the SAHRC to probe whether the use of force was justified in the circumstances, and whether any police involved should be held accountable, said Casac executive secretary Lawson Naidoo.

It also wanted an investigation into whether the police had taken the appropriate action to deal with the incident, and whether the Constitution or any statutes had been breached.

Naidoo said Casac welcomed the Independent Complaints Directorate's (ICD) decision to lay charges against six police officers.

"We are pleased that swift action has been taken to bring to justice those whose actions outraged the nation," he said.

Legal support offered

He said Casac had been in contact with Tatane's family and had offered to provide legal support including a watching brief over the criminal prosecution and exploring other legal remedies the family may wish to pursue.

SAHRC spokesperson Vincent Moaga said the Commission received the complaint on Friday, and was looking at it.

In a statement, SAHRC chairperson advocate Lawrence Mushwana said it had engaged the ICD about the attack and subsequent death of Tatane.

Mushwana said the SAHRC had wanted to ensure that no stone was left unturned in the ICD investigation of the incident.

- SAPA