December 12 2011 at 01:20pm
By Mandilakhe Tshwete
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Khwezi s aunt Lulama Mngoma.
A Cape Flats man has died in police custody – and now his well-known family is demanding answers.
They say police arrested Khwezi Mbatsha, 29, on Friday morning. Hours later they heard that he was dead.
Khwezi ran the popular tavern Mam’s Place, in Nyanga, which is owned by his grandmother Judith Mbatsha, 80.
His aunt Lulama Mngoma, 56, tells the Daily Voice Khwezi was taken into police custody on charges of attempted murder.
Mngoma says: “When my mom went to check at the police station, he wasn’t there.
“The police told my mom he was probably transferred to another police station.
“At about 5pm we were told he died after he had an epileptic attack.”
But Mngoma says Khwezi has never had epileptic fits.
“He hasn’t been to the doctor since he was two years old. This is new, how can he suddenly get fits?” she says.
The deceased’s friend Pharie Sefali, 24, says Khwezi was involved in a fight last month.
“He told us he shot two brothers but they agreed they wouldn’t press charges,” Sefali says.
“The police said they wanted the gun he used to shoot the guys and that is how he ended up being arrested.”
The family has laid a charge with the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD).
ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini says: “It is alleged that he was arrested for attempted murder by detectives from Nyanga SAPS.
“After he was detained, he was allegedly booked out by members of the Tactical Response Team based at the station at about 3.10pm.
“According to the police, the deceased fainted as he was being taken to point out a firearm.”
Cops then tried in vain to resuscitate Khwezi.
“The officers took him to the KTC Day Hospital in Nyanga at about 5.30pm where he was certified dead on arrival,” he adds.
“The deceased had no visible injuries, except for handcuff marks.”
Dlamini adds that a post-mortem will be done on Monday.
* This article was published in the Daily Voice
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/man-dies-in-police-custody-1.1196845
