IPID spokesperson, Sontaga Seisa, says IPID has been inundated with calls from the public over the alleged crimes since the lockdown began last week Friday. The two cases in the Free State are for alleged assault at the hands of a police official. There is no indication as to when or exactly where in the province the incidents took place. The Northern Cape and North West, have no reported incidents as yet. 

Seisa reveals IPID has also received complaints which do not fall within the ambit of their responsibilities and wish to make it clear that they only investigate alleged offences committed by police officers and not members of the South African Defence Force (SANDF). 

Police Minister,  Bheki Cele, is in the North West capital of Mahikeng on Tuesday, to assess adherence to lockdown regulations. Cele, who will be flanked by his deputy, Cassel Mathale, and Police Commissioner, Kehla Sitole, will visit a number of lockdown operations, kicking off their day at the provincial headquarters of the Disaster Management Centre in Mahikeng.

Cele will be expected to address growing concerns over alleged over-policing and use of excessive force during the lockdown period. This as the 34-year-old Ekurhuleni Metro police officer and 45-year-old security official arrested for their involvement in the death of an adult man in Vosloorus township on Sunday, which captured headlines, will appear in the Boksburg Regional Court today. It is alleged the deceased was sitting at a tavern in the area when police arrived in a bid to enforce lockdown regulations. Chaos erupted as members of the community allegedly began attacking police, who in retaliation began to discharge rubber bullets. “It is further alleged that the deceased was followed up to his veranda home where he was fatally shot at,” says Seisa. More people were injured in the onslaught, including minors aged 5, 6 and 11 years old. Seisa says some of them were taken to local medical facilities for medical care.

In another incident in the Western Cape, a woman is alleged to have been raped by people dressed in police uniform. This is one of the cases IPID is investigating.

IPID standby numbers per province:

1. EC 082 592 9888;

2. FS  063 225 6081;

3. GP  076 455 5718;

4. KZN 079 895 2741;

5. LIM 078 871 4811;

6. MP  072 881 4196;

7. NC  064 624 8203;

8. NW  078 163 6874 and

9. WC  073 890 1269.

OFM News