Minister of Police Bheki Cele addressed journalists on 8 August about the cab strike in Cape Town.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the assault of a barber and will fabricate recommendations, according to Minister of Police Bheki Cele.
Cele was speaking at the South African National Editors’ Forum’s (SANEF) council meeting on Saturday. He was asked by GroundUp’s editor about his lack of response to the video of the assault and what measures are being taken to reduce this nice of behaviour by police.
Cele responded that he would produce sure the case of the police assault on Juma Igiranieza is quick tracked.
Twenty-five year dilapidated Igiranieza, originally from Burundi, was assaulted on 7 November by police officers during an unexpected raid at his workplace in Mowbray, Cape Town. The incident was caught on CCTV.
GroundUp published the CCTV footage on 10 November, which Cele said he had seen and to him it looked like assault with intent to cause grievous bodily hurt.
Download the full 11 minute video. Warning: both videos depict violence and most people will find it distressing.
“Police is one of the highly regulated bodies in South Africa,” the minister said, pointing out that IPID oversees the behaviour of police.
“There are contaminated police and there are apt police. I acquire made a call that for those depraved guys, disappear hard and for the qualified guys depart marvelous. That is human nature. If I am doing rotten, hit me, but if I am doing apt, I would admire to hear you say thank you,” said Cele.
“I am told that IPID is working on this particular case and many others and will fabricate recommendations. We will try to plod rapid,” said Cele.
Speaking to GroundUp over the phone on Monday, Igiranieza said that even though he was afraid, he went back to work on Sunday (19 November).
“I still feel some pain in my body and I am still taking pain medication. But I needed to advance back to work because I need the money. I carry out still feel panicked that those police will near again,” said Igiranieza.
He and other people allegedly assaulted by police on 7 November believe obtained the services of an attorney.
GroundUp first reached out to IPID for comment on 9 November and received no response. We again asked IPID for a response on Monday (20 November). Spokesperson Robbie Raburabu responded: “Good morning, I will remind them [IPID’s provincial structure] and revert back to you.”
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