18 February 2009
The Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security has expressed serious concern
about reports of increasing police brutality and a failure by most police
stations to implement the Domestic Violence Act.
Committee Chairperson Ms Maggie Sotyu, Member of Parliament said the reports
were very serious and needed urgent attention. "We cannot allow a situation
where police no longer protect the people but beat them up, torture by police
15 years into democracy cannot be tolerated," she said.
The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) told the Safety and Security
Portfolio Committee that police brutality was on the rise in all nine provinces
and perpetrators often got off because of a lack of evidence.
Cops wear balaclavas
"Most cases of police brutality involved the Organised Crime Unit and other
specialised units within the South African Police Service," said Acting
Executive Director of ICD Mr Ellias Valoyi.
The police were also accused of trying by all means to hide or destroy
evidence to avoid prosecutions. "What is also worrying is that the police, in
most cases, wear balaclavas when they go to torture suspects and they cannot be
identified in identity parades," Valoyi told the Members of Parliament. His
comments were echoed by all the nine provincial heads of the ICD and some
members of the Committee.
Mr Kagisho Khauoe, Member of Parliament said in some instances the police
even went as far as using other detainees to torture suspects. "When arrested,
a suspect will be thrown into a cell with detainees to be tortured and later
removed by the police who will continue with the assault," he said. In
instances where foreigners witnessed cases of police brutality they were
quickly deported.
Domestic violence unabated
A police station survey by the Complaints Directorate had shown that the
police were struggling to implement the Domestic Violence Act, either through
negligence or because they misunderstood the Act.
Ms Sotyu, Member of Parliament said it was a pity that the Committee
received the reports at the end of its term but undertook to hand them over to
be followed up after the general election.
Issued by: Parliament of South Africa
18 February 2009
Source: Parliament of South Africa (http://www.parliament.gov.za)
