MEC Manana intervenes at alleged police
brutality in Matsulu
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Sibongile Manana has
intervened over alleged shooting and
assaulting of people in Matsulu Township
outside Nelspruit during the weekend of
30 and 31 October 2009.
The shooting incidents allegedly
resulted from police operation that took
place in taverns around Matsulu over the
past weekend.
Manana was told by angry community
members at a meeting Thursday, 5
November 2009, that they no longer want
the Matsulu Police Station Commissioner
as he is the one who
allegedly
authorised the local police to go on a
shooting spree that resulted in the
death of five people. At least 47 people
were admitted at a Rob Ferreira hospital
in Nelspruit.
Manana was accompanied by the Mpumalanga
South African Police Services (SAPS)
Assistant Commissioner, Rex Machabi and
Matsulu Station Commander, Capt
Sikhumbuzo Mkhandawiri.
Manana has condemned the alleged police
brutality, saying police are supposed to
protect the community and not harass
them.
“Police are custodians of human rights
and therefore cannot, in the process of
executing their duties, be violating
those rights”.
Some of the victims claimed to have been
assaulted by the police while they were
not at the taverns.
Manana stated that irrespective of
whether the victims were at taverns
outside trading hours, under no
uncertain terms are police expected to
shoot, harass or intimidate community
members.
This, the MEC said, will affect the
government’s effort to improve the
relationship between the police and the
community.
Manana has called on the Matsulu
community to remain calm and not cause
damage to property, harass or intimidate
other people while the Independent
Complaints Directorate (ICD) is
investigating these allegations.
She said the ICD should attend to the
allegations as urgently as possible so
that those who are guilty are harshly
dealt with.
Enquiries:
Zibonele Mncwango
Tel: 013 766 4018
Cell: 072 159 1865
Issued by: Department Safety, Security and Liaison
