It is sad that after suffering centuries of white-on-black oppression (1652-1994; but especially 1948-1994), black South Africans are capable of such brutality against their fellow blacks. The South African police force, however, has always contained a significant number of black officers who were among the perpetrators of Apartheid's worst crimes againts black and colored people since 1948 when Apartheid became official state policy. President P.W. Botha's notorious secret police units and death squads of the late seventies and eighties, especially Vlakplaas and Kitskonstable, had several black agents in them. Are they missing the good old days of unchecked police brutality? Thanks for sharing Cherno. Sad story indeed. Baba Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:43:05 -0500 From: [log in to unmask] Subject: [G_L] South Africa shock as 'police dragging' video man dies - OUTRAGEOUS To: [log in to unmask] South Africa shock as 'police dragging' video man dies The incident was captured on mobile phone - courtesy South Africa Daily Sun Continue reading the main story Related Stories South Africa profile Marikana police 'planted weapons' South Africa's police watchdog is investigating the death of a Mozambican taxi driver who was allegedly handcuffed to the back of a police van and dragged through the streets. Video footage taken by a bystander of the incident, near Johannesburg, has been shown in the local media. A spokesman for the Police Investigative Directorate said he was "shocked" by the footage. Rights groups often accuse South African police of brutality. Local media reported that police initially assaulted the 27-year-old Mozambican, a taxi driver, accusing him of parking his vehicle incorrectly in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg. The video shows a large crowd gathering, as uniformed policemen tie him to a van, dragging him as they drive away.'Police vigilantes' He was later taken into custody, where he died, local media report. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote The fact that the crowd watched and did nothing to help, some even cheering, is a sad indictment of the state of our society”Kate LorimerOposition MP "We are investigating an incident involving the death of a man, allegedly at the hands of the police. We are shocked by the footage which has been released," Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesman Moses Dlamini was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. "The circumstances surrounding his death are still allegations... Let's find out what really happened." The opposition Democratic Alliance party (DA) called for the officers involved to be suspended and for a thorough investigation to be carried out. "The fact that it was police who were the vigilantes in this case shows that we cannot trust the [South African Police Service] to uphold the law," said provincial parliamentarian Kate Lorimer, AFP reports. "The fact that the crowd watched and did nothing to help, some even cheering, is a sad indictment of the state of our society." Rights group Amnesty International said there was an "increasingly disturbing pattern" of police brutality in South Africa. The IPID had received 720 cases for investigation, including suspicious deaths in police custody, from April 2011 to March 2012, said Amnesty's southern Africa director Noel Kututwa, AFP reports. South Africa's police commissioner Riah Phiyega condemned the incident. "The matter is viewed by the National Commissioner in a very serious light and it is strongly condemned," she said in a statement. The police department did not confirm if the officers involved in the incident had been suspended, AFP reports. Mr Dlamini said the IPID did not have the power to suspend the officers. "We can only investigate and recommend suspension, we have no power to say that they should be removed from their jobs," he was quoted as saying. There was outrage last August when police shot dead 34 striking miners at the Marikana platinum mine in South Africa's North West province. A judge-led inquiry appointed by President Jacob Zuma is investigating the shooting.¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤