Military

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)
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Source: Voice of America
.