Daveyton taxi driver's death 'barbaric'
2013-03-07 10:26
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Hundreds of mourners gathered in Daveyton to attend the memorial service for the man who died in custody after being dragged behind a police van. See the pictures.
Johannesburg - ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has
described the death of a Daveyton minibus taxi driver, allegedly at the hands
of police, as a barbaric act.
"What is happening is worrying.... It is a sign that we
are a very angry nation and calls for something to be done," he told The
Times.
"If you look at what happened in Daveyton, no normal
person can do this."
Mozambican Mido Macia, 27, was found dead in the Daveyton
police station cells a week ago.
He was allegedly attacked by policemen and dragged behind a
police van after being arrested for a traffic violation.
Eight policemen who were arrested in connection with the
attack are expected to apply for bail in the Benoni Magistrate's Court on
Friday.
Xenophobic
According to the newspaper, Mantashe called Macia's death a
xenophobic killing.
"If you are a foreigner and killed in our country, it
is xenophobic," he was quoted as saying.
"What happened is barbaric.... Whether South African or
Mozambican, this is terrible.... It is a human being who died in a most
inhumane way."
Mantashe said this was not a narrow issue.
"You can see it in the cases of police brutality,
violence against women and children, and service delivery protests."
"We need to look at what is the problem we as a society
are facing. Are we traumatised?" he asked.
- SAPA
