BBC
Eight
South African police officers have been arrested over the death of a Mozambican
man who was apparently dragged behind a police vehicle.
An
investigation was launched after video footage emerged showing the man hauled
through the streets with his hands cuffed to a police van.
Police
Commissioner Riah Phiyega thanked people for revealing “callous and
unacceptable behaviour”.
President
Jacob Zuma called the incident “horrific” and “unacceptable”.
The eight
officers were initially suspended pending an investigation. It was later
announced that they had been arrested and would appear in court on 4 March.
A small
crowd gathered outside Daveyton police and hurled insults at passing police
cars
Taxi
driver Mido Macia, 27, died of head injuries and internal bleeding after his
arrest in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, an initial post-mortem found.
He was
reportedly detained for parking his vehicle in a way that blocked traffic.
The
video, apparently recorded by a bystander on a mobile phone on Tuesday, shows a
large crowd watching as uniformed policemen tie him to a van, dragging him as
they drive away.
Public
anger grew after the footage was broadcast on television.
South
Africa’s police watchdog – the Independent Police Investigative Directorate –
is examining the video as part of its investigation.
