SA police brutality on taxi driver raises concerns of xenophobia
Published: 2013 March 03 22:21:16 (5909 Views)
The violent death Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, who was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton, on the southern outskirts of Johannesburg, on Tuesday has raised fresh concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in the country.
Cameron Jacobs, the South Africa director of Human Rights Watch, said: "This is not the first time that we've seen acts of brutality or excessive force.
"It's also deeply concerning that this incident involved a foreign national. This may have played a part as, after all, this is something we have seen before in this country.
"Clearly, if you are 'different' you are more likely to be stopped by the police."
Dozens of foreigners fled attacks in 2008-09 in an outbreak of violent xenophobia.
The video footage of the Taxi driver's attack was recorded by a bystander and broadcast on television and the internet.
It has thrown an unwelcome spotlight on the South African police who are accused of incompetence, brutality and corruption.
The officers were initially suspended from duty while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) looked into the incident.
They were later arrested.
The police chief Riah Phiyega thanked people for revealing the "callous and unacceptable behaviour" of the officers, and said the police service "regretted and condemned the incident".
She said the force supported the principle that the "police be policed", adding: "We are equally outraged by what has happened … [this is] why we're taking steps we are."
President Jacob Zuma has condemned the incident as "horrific" and "unacceptable".
A small crowd, mostly women, gathered on Friday morning on Friday outside the police station where Macia died in the holding cells.
Detainees there were quoted by the Daily Sun newspaper as saying the police had beaten him again in the cells.
The police said he was set upon by other prisoners.
Justin Ndlovu, chair of the Benoni Taxi Association, told the BBC he had known Macia and last saw him last week.
"He was a very humble guy; he leaves behind one child in South Africa," he said.
"His brother died last year and he had become the guardian of his brother's wife and three children [also living in South Africa]."
- Guardian
Cameron Jacobs, the South Africa director of Human Rights Watch, said: "This is not the first time that we've seen acts of brutality or excessive force.
"It's also deeply concerning that this incident involved a foreign national. This may have played a part as, after all, this is something we have seen before in this country.
"Clearly, if you are 'different' you are more likely to be stopped by the police."
Dozens of foreigners fled attacks in 2008-09 in an outbreak of violent xenophobia.
The video footage of the Taxi driver's attack was recorded by a bystander and broadcast on television and the internet.
It has thrown an unwelcome spotlight on the South African police who are accused of incompetence, brutality and corruption.
The officers were initially suspended from duty while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) looked into the incident.
They were later arrested.
The police chief Riah Phiyega thanked people for revealing the "callous and unacceptable behaviour" of the officers, and said the police service "regretted and condemned the incident".
She said the force supported the principle that the "police be policed", adding: "We are equally outraged by what has happened … [this is] why we're taking steps we are."
President Jacob Zuma has condemned the incident as "horrific" and "unacceptable".
A small crowd, mostly women, gathered on Friday morning on Friday outside the police station where Macia died in the holding cells.
Detainees there were quoted by the Daily Sun newspaper as saying the police had beaten him again in the cells.
The police said he was set upon by other prisoners.
Justin Ndlovu, chair of the Benoni Taxi Association, told the BBC he had known Macia and last saw him last week.
"He was a very humble guy; he leaves behind one child in South Africa," he said.
"His brother died last year and he had become the guardian of his brother's wife and three children [also living in South Africa]."
- Guardian
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