Just who can we trust?
This question follows from an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) after the bodies of three murder suspects – allegedly tortured and executed by police officers and their informants investigating the case – were found in an isolated area in Carletonville in May 2015.
Regarding the conviction, Moses Dlamini, the National Spokesperson confirmed, “A former constable and two civilians were each convicted of three counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of assault GBH, one count of kidnapping and one count of defeating the ends of justice on 26 June 2017. One constable was acquitted of all charges.”
Their sentencing was set down for Tuesday, 25 July 2017 in the North Gauteng High Court sitting in Potchefstroom. The official outcome is not known at this stage.
The statement reads further …
“Three people were murdered and two policemen went on the run after the murders were exposed. They were then arrested after a manhunt that lasted a few weeks. It is alleged that in April 2015, the police officers, as well as three informants, went to arrest four murder suspects. The suspects were identified by the informers and then arrested by the officers. One suspect was tortured until he passed out. The policemen then took the suspect to a hospital where he was certified dead. They then drove around with the dead body in their vehicle as well as the other suspects to a field in Carletonville to cover up the evidence. It is alleged that the police officers shot the three suspects, but one escaped and was picked up by a passer-by who took him to hospital.
One of the informants approached the Gauteng Police and the matter was reported to the Ipid. The Gauteng Police, under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner, General Lesetja Mothiba, assisted in tracing the policeman who had absconded. It was established that some of the informants had been part of the killings.
Two constables, who were based at Springs Detectives, and two civilians have been on trial since 22 May 2017. One constable was acquitted of all charges. The constables as well as their commander, a colonel, have since been dismissed from the South African Police Service (SAPS) following a disciplinary process.”
