This is according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) acting national spokesperson, Robbie Raburabu.
Raburabu said the victim was arrested for possession of dagga in Actonville on April 27.
“It was alleged (by police) that he was violent and therefore he was put into a single cell because of his violence,” said Raburabu.
The man was found dead in the cell later that same day.
Raburabu said the death is consistent with hanging and that the victim used his tracksuit pants to hang himself inside the Actonville Police Station.
The spokesperson told the City Times that a post-mortem also did not reveal any signs of assault, following claims from the man’s family that police had assaulted him.
Raburabu said the post-mortem was conducted on April 28.
An inquest docket has been opened.
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