Community vents anger at police over death of woman
ALEXANDRA - Anger is brewing among residents of Alexandra following the death of Aphiwe Zweni who the community alleges died as result of police beating last week.
Anger is brewing among residents of Alexandra following the death of Aphiwe Zweni who the community alleges died as result of a police beating last week.
Zweni died of injuries sustained from the alleged beating by police, who it is claimed came to her home looking for her boyfriend who they wanted for possession of firearms and stolen property.
An emotional Siyasanga Dywati and close friend of Zweni, attributed her death to the police and claimed that they shouldn’t have assaulted her as they already had her boyfriend in their van.
“They [police] took Aphiwe indoors where they assaulted her for about an hour, and afterwards she expressed pains in her abdominal area and had to be taken to the clinic where she was only given pain relievers, and subsequently died the same night,” she said.
The police also allegedly broke down a door to her uncle’s home nearby when he was at work, purportedly looking for something. Dywati added that the community was aggrieved at the police who she claimed had not come to check on Aphiwe’s condition, nor expressed remorse after her death.”What aggrieves us the most is that she died at the hands of people who are supposed to protect us, and from a government that we recently voted into power again,” she said tearfully.
A group of neighbours, friends and relatives of Zweni marched to the Alex Police Station on 15th Avenue to express their anger, but were not attended to by anyone from the police. They vowed to organise themselves and march to the station again.
The acting station commander, Ellen Tshabalala refused to comment referring all questions to the police media office where the spokesperson was said to be on leave.
Zweni is survived by a one-year-old daughter and parents in the Eastern Cape where its expected she will be laid to rest.
Related articles:
Police watchdog agency investigates death of Alex woman
Cops allegedly beat woman to death
Residents protest death of woman
What do you think should be done to those responsible?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, Alex News or tweet us @AlexNewsZA
Add Alex News on BBM for the latest hard hitting news in your community. PIN: 29CA3017
