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The Independent Police Investigative Directorate says it has arrested 16 police officers for the death of a man in custody, the first major breakthrough in several cases of alleged brutality during the Covid-19 lockdown.
IPID’s Lizzy Suping, says the man, who has not been named, was held along with three others in April 2020 in a Johannesburg suburb for breaching lockdown rules.
“He was then allegedly assaulted by the police officers and members of a private security firm, before being taken to a police station, where he complained about stomach pains and later died,” she said.
Suping said police officers were arrested between 12 and 14 July and appeared in court where they were granted bail of R2000 each, while the security officer was released on bail of R1000.
She said they will be back in the Protea Magistrates Court in Soweto on 12 August.
