(FXI/IFEX) – On 20 July 1998, nine Gugulethu, Cape Town policemen were suspended from duty following an assault on “Cape Argus” journalist Thabo Mabaso at the Gugulethu police station on 27 June 1998. West Metropolitan Police Chief Ganief Daniels said the decision to suspend the police on full pay was taken late on Monday, 20 […]
(FXI/IFEX) – On 20 July 1998, nine Gugulethu, Cape Town policemen were
suspended
from duty following an assault on “Cape Argus” journalist Thabo Mabaso at
the Gugulethu police station on 27 June 1998. West Metropolitan Police Chief
Ganief Daniels said the decision to suspend the police on full pay was taken
late on Monday, 20 July 1998. The policemen were informed about their
suspension on Tuesday, 21 July. Daniels said that despite several requests,
they did not attend an identification parade, which amounted to a failure to
cooperate with the Internal Complaints Directorate and
resulted in further delays in the criminal investigation. “Although the
legal rights of the members not to take part in an identity parade are fully
respected, the stalemate to which it gave rise was morally indefensible”,
said Daniels. He said that this has led to an internal investigation after
permission was granted by the ICD to do so on 16 July, in so far as it did
not interfere with the criminal investigation. According to Daniels, the
internal inquiry established that there was a substantial possibility that
members concerned may be guilty of serious misconduct. He indicated that the
continued presence of these policemen at the Gugulethu police station, and
the lack of satisfactory progress in the criminal investigation has resulted
in a considerable breakdown in trust between the Gugulethu police and the
community. He said that this has affected the operational efficiency of the
station in terms of service and delivery.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 3 July and 30 June 1998**
Background Information
On 27 June 1998, Thabo Mabaso was allegedly beaten by 10 policemen at the
Gugulethu police station after reporting a traffic accident. According to FX
I, although Mabaso went to the station to report the accident as an ordinary
citizen, he did inform the police that he was a reporter. He was detained
overnight and released the following day. Mabaso was taken to hospital for
treatment and discharged on 29 June, but has lost sight in his left eye.
“Cape Argus” editor Moegsien Williams said at the time that he was shocked
and appalled by the alleged assault on Mabaso. Meanwhile, the ANC Western
Cape leader,
Ebrahim Rasool, called for the immediate suspension of the policemen on duty
at the time of the alleged assault. Rasool said that those responsible did
not deserve to be members of the SA Police Service and had shown no respect
for the constitution and the country’s laws. The Cape Town police then
launched an internal investigation into the
matter.
Mabaso’s treatment is indicative of a lack of respect by the police for the
public in general. It is sad that it is only because of Mabaso’s media
connections that this case was brought to prominence.
