Five public order police officers accused of murder will
appear before the Cradock Magistrate’s Court on Monday, January 22, after their
bail application was rolled over on Friday, January 19.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali said that Melikhaya Madubedube (41), Ibanathi Jack (33), Ndumiso Mpondo (29), Khulile Damane (46), and Vuyani Mahlasela (31) were arrested on January 11 and 12.
“(They) are each facing one charge of murder, two counts of attempted murder, an assault to cause grievous bodily harm charge, and three counts of kidnapping,” Tyali said.
Their arrest, he said, followed the discovery of the body of a 29-year-old man at the SAPS premises in Cradock on January 8.
Tyali said the accused officers had been conducting crime prevention patrols with a Quantum minibus police vehicle.
“When they came across one of the victims, they allegedly handcuffed, assaulted him in the vehicle, and questioned him about a stolen cell phone belonging to one of the accused. They allegedly drove on the R61 road out of town where they stopped, assaulted, pepper-sprayed, and suffocated him,” Tyali said.
The victim told the officers about another person, who might know about the stolen cell phone.
The second victim, after allegedly suffering the same torture introduced a third party at play.
The third victim allegedly suffered the same fate as the first duo, Tyali said.
“When knock-off and shift-change time arrived, the accused went back to their station where they instructed the first and second victims to leave the premises. The third victim was allegedly dragged to a nearby tap where water was poured on him. He could not stand on his own. The accused persons allegedly left the victim lying on the premises of the station,” he said.
The body was discovered by the station commander who called an ambulance. He was declared dead on the scene.
“The surviving victims identified the accused persons as the officers who assaulted them. The state is opposing bail on the matter, ” he said.
