Crimes of the South African Police Service

EC school teacher ‘tortured’ by police

By APHIWE DEKLERK on April 11, 2013

A MOUNT Fletcher family claims police arrived at their house in the early hours last Friday and tortured them.

The police were reportedly investigating the murder of Lower Nxotshana Junior Secondary School principal Sonwabo Ralarala, who was gunned down late last year .

Ntombikayise Sigam-Mini, who is a teacher at the school, has opened a case with the police after she and her husband were allegedly tortured at their Lower Ncotshana home by officers looking for the firearm that killed the principal.

Sigam-Mini told the Daily Dispatch that at about 1am on April5 police came to their home, took her to a separate room, handcuffed her and suffocated her with a plastic bag.

She said they asked her about her husband’s gun which, they alleged, he had used to kill Ralarala because of jealousy.

“I was suffocating and couldn’t breathe. At some point I wet myself. I told them the only gun I knew of had been owned by my late father-in- law and it was taken by my mother-in-law to Butterworth years back,” she said.

She said her husband, Sibongiseni Mini, was also tortured in a similar way.

Mini was later taken to Mount Fletcher police station where he was again allegedly tortured.
Mount Fletcher police station commander Colonel Majoro Moroba admitted his men had gone to the Mini’s home after receiving information the gun used to kill Ralarala was there.

“Officers asked him [ Mini] about the incident but he said the gun that used to be at his home had been taken by his mother to Butterworth. He claimed never to have held the gun,” Moroba said. He said Mini was then taken to the police station for further questioning.

“His wife came to me and said the reason her husband was linked to the killing was that there were rumours she and the principal were having an affair,” he said.

Moroba said Sigam-Mini told him about the alleged torture and he advised her to open a case at Tabase police station. He said when he asked Mini if he had been assaulted, he denied it.

However, outside the police station Mini said he had been handcuffed, suffocated and kicked in the stomach and private parts. “I went to the doctor and we then opened a case ,” he said.
Tabase police station commander, Captain Lucas Mpeki confirmed a case had been opened with them. — aphiwed@dispatch.co.za

http://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/ec-school-teacher-tortured-by-police/