Lieut Col Lungelo Dlamini, provincial SAPS spokesperson, said Malati was arrested in Etwatwa, on Sunday, for drinking in public, but was later detained at the Daveyton SAPS.
“According to the inmates, he allegedly banged his head against the wall before he went to sleep,” said Dlamini.
“When police visited the cell, the man would not wake up and the paramedics were called”.
But the man was pronounced dead on the scene.
Meanwhile, according to the DA, who visited the family yesterday, Malati’s family explained that when they visited him yesterday they found him lying in his holding cell.
“The station commander was unable to offer an explanation for his death and indicated that a post-mortem would need to be conducted,” said Michele Clark, DA Gauteng spokesperson for community safety.
The DA said they would request an urgent investigation into the case by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Dlamini said Daveyton police are investigating an inquest docket regarding the matter, but that they do not suspect foul play.
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