DATE=4/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248405
TITLE=SAF POLICE BRUTALITY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EACH YEAR, THE SOUTH AFRICA POLICE SERVICE PAYS
THREE-MILLION-DOLLARS IN COMPENSATION TO VICTIMS OF UNLAWFUL
POLICE ACTION. AS V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM
JOHANNESBURG, IN A RECENT 11-MONTH PERIOD MORE THAN 650 PEOPLE
DIED EITHER IN POLICE CUSTODY OR AS A RESULT OF POLICE ACTION.
TEXT: THE STATISTICS INDICATE BRUTALITY IN THE SOUTH-AFRICAN
POLICE SERVICE IS ENDEMIC. IN 11-MONTHS, THE INDEPENDENT
COMPLAINTS COMMISSION HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS OF 666 DEATHS, 270
CASES OF SERIOUS ASSAULT OR ATTEMPTED MURDER, 58 CASES OF TORTURE
AND 68 OF COMMON ASSAULT ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY MEMBERS OF THE
SERVICE. THE COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH INVESTIGATING UNLAWFUL
ACTIVITY IN THE POLICE SERVICE.
THESE STATISTICS WERE BROUGHT VIVIDLY TO LIFE IN A BRITISH
BROADCASTING CORPORATION DOCUMENTARY TELEVISED THIS WEEK IN SOUTH
AFRICA. POLICE OFFICERS, AWARE THEY WERE BEING FILMED, BEAT AND
SET DOGS ONTO SUSPECTS -- SOME OF WHOM HAD ALREADY BEEN SERIOUSLY
INJURED IN A CAR CRASH. ONE SUSPECT SUBSEQUENTLY DIED.
MANY SOUTH AFRICANS, WHO DAILY FACE THE THREAT OF VIOLENT CRIME,
CALLED TALKS SHOWS TO APPLAUD THE ACTIONS OF THE POLICE. BUT THE
SIX WHITE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED WHILE THE COMPLAINTS
COMMISSION INVESTIGATES THE CASES.
POLICE COMMISSIONER GEORGE FIVAZ CONDEMNED THE BEHAVIOR OF THE
OFFICERS, SAYING THEY DEMONSTRATED A SHOCKING DISREGARD FOR BASIC
HUMAN RIGHTS. BUT HE SAYS POLICE OFFICERS IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE
SUBJECTED TO INTENSE LEVELS OF STRESS FOR LONG PERIODS AT A TIME.
MR. FIVAZ SAID THE POLICE SERVICE DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR POORLY PAID OFFICERS WHO ARE EXPOSED
DAILY TO VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA. MORE THAN 200 POLICE OFFICERS WERE
KILLED ON DUTY LAST YEAR. FIFTY-THOUSAND MURDERS WERE
PERPETRATED IN SOUTH AFRICA IN A RECENT TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD.
TRAINEE POLICE OFFICERS ARE INVOLVED IN MORE SHOOTOUTS IN THEIR
FIRST YEAR ON DUTY THAN ARE UNITED STATES POLICE OFFICERS IN AN
ENTIRE CAREER.
THE SOUTH-AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SAID SOME SOUTH
AFRICANS VIEW THE BRUTALIZATION OF SUSPECTS AS A TRIUMPHANT
REVENGE OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS AGAINST CRIMINALS. THE
COMMISSION SAID CITIZENS HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SAFE -- A RIGHT
THREATENED NOT ONLY BY VIOLENT CRIMINALS BUT ALSO BY VIOLENT
POLICE OFFICERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/ALW/RAE
21-Apr-99 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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