Man commits suicide in police cells
NORWOOD - A man allegedly committed suicide in the Norwood police station holding cells.
According to Norwood police spokesperson Constable Nonzwakazi Tsoanyane, the man had been arrested in connection with murder and attempted murder charges.
Tsoanyane said the suspect was arrested in the early hours on 21 February. “He was later found dead around 1pm on the same day,” she said.
An inquest docket has been opened and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate has launched an investigation into the matter.
The directorate’s Moses Dlamini said, “I can confirm that the directorate is investigating allegations that the deceased hung himself in police custody. The exact circumstances or details are the subject of an investigation.”
President of the South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights, Golden ‘Miles’ Bhudu said he suspected foul play in this case and accused police officers on duty of negligence. “If officers on duty are not personally held accountable, such incidents will continue happening,” he said. “Let the officers on duty be sued and the money should be taken off their pension fund and not from taxpayers’ money.”
The directorate’s 2012/13 annual report indicated a 19 percent national increase of incidents of deaths in police custody compared to the previous year.
However, Gauteng showed a decrease by six percent in the number of deaths in police cells.
Tsonyane declined to comment further and referred all questions to the directorate.
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