Question No 153
Mr V B Ndlovu (IFP) to ask the Minister of Police:
How many members of the public have been killed by police in the past six months (a) while the police defended themselves, (b) as innocent bystanders and (c) while resisting arrest?
Reply:
a) The category below refers to deaths where members of the police were allegedly defending themselves which then resulted in the deaths listed below. The circumstances of these deaths are still under investigation.
a) The category below refers to deaths where members of the police were allegedly defending themselves which then resulted in the deaths listed below. The circumstances of these deaths are still under investigation.
A suspect died during the course of a crime
Dec 2008: 4
Jan 2009: 5
Feb 2009:16
Mar 2009: 6
Apr 2009: 9
May 2009: 5
Total: 45
A suspect died during the course of an investigation
Dec 2008: 4
Jan 2009: 4
Feb 2009:3
Mar 2009: 3
Apr 2009: 4
May 2009: 2
Total: 20
Grand total:
Dec 2008: 8
Jan 2009: 9
Feb 2009:19
Mar 2009: 9
Apr 2009: 13
May 2009: 7
Total: 65
b) These numbers below represent deaths of innocent bystanders, which amounted to 12 for the period
An innocent bystander died during commission of a crime
Dec 2008: 0
Jan 2009: 1
Feb 2009: 1
Mar 2009: 3
Apr 2009: 2
May 2009:1
Total: 8
An innocent bystander died during the course of an escape of another
Dec 2008: 1
Jan 2009: 1
Feb 2009: 1
Mar 2009: 0
Apr 2009: 0
May 2009:1
Total: 4
Grand total:
Dec 2008: 1
Jan 2009: 2
Feb 2009: 2
Mar 2009: 3
Apr 2009: 2
May 2009:2
Total: 12
c) These numbers below represent deaths which allegedly occurred while police members were attempting to effect arrests and were met with resistance.
Description: suspect died during the course of arrest
Dec 2008: 20
Jan 2009: 16
Feb 2009:12
Mar 2009: 25
Apr 2009: 27
May 2009: 23
Total: 123
Issued by: South African Police Service
3 August 2009
