One of the officers allegedly involved in the incident is in a local hospital. The other was arrested on Wednesday (26/3) to face charges of murder and assault.

On Saturday (21/3), police went in search of suspects following a complaint of cell phone robbery. They found three men walking near a church in Bainsvlei. They accused them of hiding the phone, despite the men denying any knowledge of it.

The police drove the trio to Bainsvlei police station and allegedly assaulted them. They also took them back to where they’d been arrested and demanded that they produce the cell phone. They said they still denied knowledge of a cell phone.

They allegedly continued assaulting them with batons and fists, and thereafter drove back to the police station with the three men in the back of a bakkie.  

“One of the men was lying motionless in the bakkie on arrival at the police station; he had no signs of life,” said Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping.

The police drove the trio to Bainsvlei police station and allegedly assaulted them. Photo: Freepik

“Two of the men were taken out of the bakkie, and the police officers allegedly drove out of the police station with the deceased. His body was found by a passer-by in the veld next to the church in Bainsvlei on Monday.”

Last year, Ipid launched an investigation into the death of a woman, 57, from Upington in a detention cell at the Rosedale police station. It is alleged the officers discovered an unknown woman lying on the pavement.

But instead of calling medical emergency services, police reportedly transported her to the police station, where she was placed in a holding cell.

“During a routine cell inspection the following morning, officers again found the woman unresponsive,” said Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping. “Emergency medical personnel were summoned, but she was declared dead on the scene. Her body was then transported to the local mortuary.

“Ipid was notified shortly after 07:00. The woman appeared to have external injuries on her body, though the nature and cause of those injuries were not been disclosed.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame

• Have a news tip to share? Phone or whatsapp the OFM News Hotline: 066 487 1427