More reports of police torture
MP says there is a growing number of reports of apartheid-style police torture
Published: 2011/03/16 06:34:48 AM
WYNDHAM HARTLEY
CAPE TOWN — There is a growing number of reports of apartheid-style police torture, particularly of citizens arrested in service delivery protests, says Parliament’s police committee chairwoman, Sindi Chikunga .
Her remarks yesterday ahead of a briefing to the committee by the police watchdog the Independent Complaints Directorate followed reports of serious police abuses only last weekend when patrons of a nightclub in Hillbrow were beaten and abused during a raid.
Ms Chikunga, opening yesterday’s meeting of the police committee, said MPs were getting more reports of torture "not seen since apartheid" by police. Many of these complaints came from protesters and she wondered whether they were even aware of the complaints directorate’s existence.
There were complaints of police using suffocation as a torture method, along with other means to force people to talk, she said
Ms Chikunga also reminded the meeting that in a constitutional SA people had a right to remain silent and "we can’t go back to pre-1994 behaviour".
The complaints had been raised with police management.
Ms Chikunga asked the complaints directorate ’s executive director, Francois Beukman, whether he was aware of these complaints, particularly from Mpumalanga, or whether he was waiting for complaints to be lodged before an investigation could be mounted.
Mr Beukman said he associated himself entirely with her sentiments. Three of his investigators sent to Mpumalanga last week were due to report back by the end of this week. Allegations of police torture were usually referred to the directorate’s provincial offices for evaluation.
In a related development, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa indicated that police were considering a change in the policy of suspending officers accused of criminal action on full pay.
He revealed that in the 2009-10 financial year the salaries of suspended police officers totalled R2,5m. They were suspended on charges that included criminality or involvement in crimes such as assault, theft and drunken driving .
Mr Mthethwa said in a statement that he had accordingly tasked the South African Police Service management to review, extensively consult and come up with urgent proposals around policies governing suspension with full pay — and provide him with a report by end of next month.
"As we tighten the screws on police members who are engaged in acts of criminality we must close all the loopholes that currently exist. Beyond pressing criminal charges on such unscrupulous members, we must also hit them where it hurts most: in the pocket.
"As recently indicated, we are making inroads in rooting out police corruption that may exist within the force," Mr Mthethwa said.
hartleyw@bdfm.co.za
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