Rose Gudlhuza, the ID Provincial Chairperson for Gauteng, says the Independent Democrats is ‘extremely concerned by the increasing number of deaths in police holding cells and the subsequent handling of such cases.

‘Deaths in police cells appear to be on the increase in Gauteng. This is the third person that has died in police custody in Gauteng in a matter of weeks and we are doubtful over whether the Independent Complaints Directorate is acting quickly or convincingly enough against the perpetrators,’ Ms Gudlhuza says.

Gudlhuza’s comments come after a Soweto man, Tefo Kgame, collapsed and died at the Diepkloof police station after he was allegedly severely beaten by police. Two weeks ago, a suspect died on arrival at the Norwood Police Station.

‘The fact that police allegedly responsible for beating Mr Kgame to death are continuing to work as if nothing happened, sends out the wrong message to the public and other members of the police force,’ says Gudlhuza.

‘We in the Independent Democrats believe that by allowing them to continue working police management is encouraging a culture of vigilantism in the police force and showing disrespect for the rights of ordinary people.

‘We have made repeated calls on the Department of Safety and Security to introduce workshops for police where they are educated on their duties to serve, protect and follow due processes that are in line with the requirements of the Constitution,’ Gudlhuza says.

For media enquiries, please call Sibongile Maputi, ID Gauteng Media Officer, on 083 284 0646