When Wayne Thomas (27) died in a police cell in Bellville South, many residents immediately felt the police were lying to them.
The police said Thomas, who was found hanging in an office at the end of December, killed himself.
His family and scores of others believe it was a case of police brutality – one of many they say have plagued the station over the years.
His death and subsequent outrage may be one incident closer to the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back in a community where many believe they aren’t being protected by those tasked to safeguard them.
According to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Grace Langa, the directorate arrested Thomas for assault on 19 December after he allegedly accosted a man who stole his father’s bicycle.
Police then allegedly left him to look for another suspect in the same case and found his body upon their return.
“It is alleged that he used a cord to commit suicide as his right arm was not cuffed,” Langa said, assuring that they were investigating the case.
His death was immediately met with outrage.
Member of the ANC in the Western Cape Legislature, Mesuli Kami, said they were seeking a full investigation into the matter. He paid a visit to the family shortly after the incident happened.
“There are far too many unanswered questions. A thorough post-mortem must be held to establish the cause of death because the police say it’s suicide, and that he hanged himself. But this happened at the charge office. How does a person kill himself at the charge office? The police also denied the family access to the body,” he says.
On 3 January community members took to the streets to protest against the police.
Langa called for patience while Ipid officers investigate the case.
“Ipid as an investigating body does not have an opinion at this stage about what could have transpired. The police officers involved have rights, the deceased family have the right of knowing what happened to their son.
“The community and civil society have every right to know what happened, but unfortunately Ipid does not have the answers yet, we appeal for calmness, patience as well as space to conduct our investigations with integrity, transparency and fairness.
“Putting pressure on investigators will compromise the case which will deny the deceased and family justice they deserve.”
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