Driver didn't know Macia was handcuffed to van
2013-03-08 20:07
Benoni - The police officer, who was driving the vehicle that taxi driver Mido Macia was dragged behind, was not aware that the Mozambican was handcuffed to the vehicle, a court heard on Friday.
Macia was found dead in police custody after being dragged behind a police van in Daveyton on 26 February - an incident which was taped by a bystander. A post-mortem revealed that he had died of head and internal injuries.
The nine police officers implicated in his death appeared in the Benoni Magistrate's court on Friday, where their affidavits were read out.
Lungisa Ewababa said he was at the steering wheel of the bakkie and began to drive after a window was broken in the commotion. He only realised Macia was at the back after being told by Bongumusa Mdluli.
He said officers put Macia into the vehicle and he drove Macia to the station.
Mdluli backed up Ewababa's claim, saying when he arrived at the scene; members of the public were throwing objects at the police.
He also saw "someone" at the back of a police bakkie and rushed to tell the driver.
Tussled
The court earlier heard that one of the police officers implicated was assaulted by the Marcia before his arrest.
Elias Tshole, for Thamsanqa Ncema, read out his client's
affidavit in court.
In it, Ncema alleged that Mozambican taxi driver Macia was blocking the road with his taxi on 26 February.
"I asked him to move and he insulted me and told me
I am a useless cop," Ncema said.
Ncema claimed Macia grabbed a fellow officer's gun and
pointed it at them.
He later handed it back and Warrant Officer Meshack
Malele went to call for backup.
Macia's driver's license was taken and he then
"tussled" with Ncema, after he asked to get it back.
Ncema said Macia was arrested after backup arrived and
was taken to the police station.
"I was caught by surprise to be told that the person
had died, as he has never complained about any injuries," Ncema said.
Ncema and Malele, along with Motome Walter Ramatlou,
Percy Mnisi, Sipho Ngobeni, Bongani Kolisi
and Linda Sololo, appeared in court for their bail application.
Mnisi said in an affidavit that he assisted Ncema after
he received a call for backup.
Sololo said he had a previous case pending, where he was
charged with defeating the ends of justice. He is currently out on bail for
that case.
He said he suffered from hypertension and had to take
medication for it.
- SAPA
