Man dies in police van
IPID
confirms they are investigating the death of a suspect who was allegedly bust
for selling cellphones.
The
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Monday confirmed the
investigation into the death of a 37-year-old man in the back of a police
vehicle at the Rondebosch South African Police Service (SAPS) station.
IPID
spokesman Moses Dlamini said that the incident happened on November 3.
“It is
alleged that on 03 November 2016 at 5:10pm police received information that the
deceased was allegedly selling cellphones outside the Pick n Pay in Main Rd,
Rondebosch, which is situated across the road from the police station. SAPS
members attended to the complaint and found the deceased at the scene with
cellphones,” Dlamini said in a statement.
“SAPS
members arrived on the scene managed to handcuff the deceased. The deceased was
placed in the back of the patrol vehicle with his hands cuffed behind his back.
On arrival at the police station, at 6:10pm, the SAPS members opened the patrol
vehicle door and removed the deceased from the vehicle.”
Dlamini
said the officers observed that the man was hyperventilating and struggling to
breathe so they called paramedics. The paramedics declared the man dead.
On
November 4, a post mortem was conducted before the burial of the deceased, who
is Muslim.
“The
cause of death is currently unknown. An inquest docket has been registered. No
arrest has been made,” Dlamini said.
African News Agency
