26 January 2007
Pretoria: Between 17 and 22 January 2007 a series of articles appeared in
certain newspapers regarding an alleged attempted arrest of a woman in
Sunnyside on the night of 15 January 2007. These articles contained a number of
factually incorrect statements which have caused a great deal of harm to the
South African Police Service (SAPS) as an organisation as well as to individual
members.
The South African Police Service welcomes the apology relating to this
matter which appeared on the front page of certain newspapers today. The
correction, however, addressed only certain parts of the incorrect
statements.
The matter is the subject of an investigation by an objective senior member
and is nearing conclusion. The SAPS would like to set the record straight on
certain perceptions created by the newspaper articles without pre-empting the
outcome of the investigation.
On the night in question, police officials who were on crime prevention
duty, made certain observations from which they concluded that the woman
referred to in the articles had committed an offence. The police wanted to
question her but, to avoid arrest, she crawled underneath a police vehicle,
lodged herself there and refused to move. Pepper spray was used as a means of
minimum force. After having removed her from underneath the vehicle, police
noted that the woman appeared to be in distress and called for medical
assistance. Paramedics attended and took her to hospital where she was treated
for abrasions without being admitted. She left after having been treated.
The following comments from the newspaper articles in questions are hereby
disputed:
Headline : Police beat woman into coma, 17 January 2007
From newspaper article: A city woman is fighting for her life in
hospital.
The facts: The woman was treated and left the hospital after a few hours. She
was not in a coma fighting for her life and was not even in hospital when the
article was published.
From newspaper article: A witness stated that the police smashed the woman's
head against the van's back doors, kicked her in the head and stomach and
strangled her.
The facts: The "witness" appears to be an illegal immigrant who refused to be
interviewed by police to corroborate the newspaper article. However, the
medical reports and affidavits do not support this version of events.
From newspaper article: A paramedic (who is not named) said the woman had
suffered head, neck and internal injuries.
The facts: Paramedics on the scene have confirmed that the woman was conscious
when they questioned her and suffered only abrasions and bruising.
From newspaper article: A nurse (who is not named) allegedly stated that the
woman had suffered head, neck and internal injuries.
The facts: Nurses who treated her stated to the investigating officer that the
woman had not suffered serious injuries and in fact was not bleeding. She had
burn wounds on her neck which, according to her, date back to last year.
Headline : Prostitute missing as police hunt rogue cops, 18 January 2007
From newspaper article: Headline : Prostitute missing as police hunt rogue
cops.
The facts: The woman was not missing, she had no fixed address. The police were
not hunting any police officer, we knew exactly who had been on duty.
From newspaper article:
The prostitute, believed to be 17 years old, discharged herself from Tshwane
District Hospital on Wednesday less than two days after being beaten comatose
by police while trying to resist arrest.
The facts: The woman, by her own admission, is 32 years of age having been born
in 1974. The woman was not comatose. The woman could not have discharged
herself from hospital after two days because she was never admitted.
Headline : Are these pepper spray wounds? (Selebi tries to disprove 'News
story � with the wrong woman's hospital report'), 19 January 2007
From newspaper article: Selebi showed the hospital report to members of the
South African National Editor's Forum (Sanef).
The facts: Selebi did not even have a copy of the report in the room when
meeting with editors. He did not show it to them.
From newspaper article: It has since been established that the report in
question refers to a different patient.
The facts: Police have two medical reports for investigation purposes, both
refer to the same patient who is, in fact, the woman in question.
From newspaper article: The hospital report also gave the patient's age as
in her 30s, far older than the woman pictured.
The facts: The woman pictured was the woman to whom the medical reports
referred, her age being 32 years.
From newspaper article: The woman was in a critical condition.
The facts: The woman was treated and was not admitted to hospital.
Headline : Prostitute speaks out 'I am scared the police will kill me,' 22
January 2007
From newspaper article: "I am scared police will kill me."
The facts: The woman in question spent four hours driving around with police on
Sunday after making another allegation not related to SAPS action.
From newspaper article: �Jackie Selebi on Friday when he handed out the
woman's medical report at a Sanef meeting.
The facts: The National Commissioner did not have the medical report in his
possession when meeting with editors and certainly did not � and could not have
� handed it out.
From newspaper article: She was violently dragged out from below a police
van.
The facts: All indications are that the woman was pulled out from below a
police van, where she had crawled and lodged herself to evade arrest.
All the information supplied in this media statement emanate from hospital
records, police records and statements.
National Commissioner Jackie Selebi said: "I despise brutality and if a
police official commits an unlawful act of violence I will be the first person
to take the strongest action. I will, however, never stand back if I am of the
opinion that hard-working members have been prejudiced unfairly."
As stated previously, the correction in today's papers is welcomed and will
ensure that a sound, open relationship between the SAPS and the newspaper group
in question will continue. We hope that other media groups which have covered
this incident, as well as other instances which could not wait to castigate the
National Commissioner based on incorrect reporting, take note.
For further information, please contact:
Director Sally de Beer
National SAPS Spokesperson
Cell: 082 779 8658
Issued by: South African Police Service
26 January 2007
South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/)
