Daveyton brutality 'an embarrassment'
2013-03-14 13:23
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2013-03-11 12:39
Protesters have gathered outside the Benoni Magistrate's Court where the nine policemen charged with murder have appeared for their ongoing bail hearing. Watch. WATCH
Johannesburg - The police were embarrassed by the dragging
of minibus taxi driver Mido Macia behind a police van, Gauteng police
commissioner Mzwandile Petros said on Thursday.
"As people who wear the police uniform, we are
embarrassed by what happened, but we have confidence in the judicial system
regarding the matter," Petros said.
Petros, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Gauteng community
safety MEC Faith Mazibuko were meeting with Daveyton residents following the
death of Macia in police custody on 26 February.
Earlier that day he was dragged behind a police van.
Abuse of power
Petros said: "An abuse of power by police at any level
should be reported. Abuse of power is not only brutality, but corruption as
well."
Complaints and concerns raised by the Daveyton community
would be followed up.
"Incidents like these should not stop with condemnation.
There should be condemnation and action," Petros said.
Nine policemen accused of killing Macia were denied bail by
the Benoni Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Magistrate Sam Makamu said he felt it was not in the
interests of justice to grant them bail. The matter would resume on 12 April.
Delivering his ruling, Makamu said Daveyton residents could
try to seek revenge on the accused.
He expressed concern at the prospect of sending the men back
to their homes in this "unfavourable" climate.
Police cells 'are hell'
Earlier, a resident told Mthethwa of his abuse at the hands
of Daveyton police.
"If you have never been inside those [Daveyton] police
station cells, you haven't seen anything," resident Martin Mokoena told
him during his visit to the area.
Mthethwa listened and noted residents' complaints regarding
the conduct of police in the area.
Mokoena, 50, said police "brutally" assaulted him
in 2011 when he went to report his son, who broke his house's windows and
doors. The son got angry after he reprimanded him for arriving home late one
night.
"Instead they told me to go back. When I refused, they
assaulted me and threw me into a cell."
Mokoena said he could not see properly and had difficulty
hearing as a result of the assault. He went to see a doctor, and later went to
open a case against the police.
"They told me I have to speak to the station
commissioner if I have a complaint against the police, but an officer opened a
docket and registered the complaint."
Mokoena said he had been following up on progress with the
case, but nothing had been happening.
- SAPA
