DSI saddened to hear of the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Julies
Julies(16) who had Down Syndrome was gunned down on Wednesday night last week. His killing angered residents of Eldorado Park and sparked outrage across the country.
Update September 02, 2020, @ 11:00
Down Syndrome International was shocked and saddened to hear of the fatal shooting of Nathaniel Julius, a 16-year-old with Down syndrome, by police officers in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday 26 August. Our thoughts are with Nathaniel’s family and we urge the South African authorities to ensure that justice is done for Nathaniel and his family and community.
This tragic killing at the hands of those whose job is to protect the community is a stark reminder that worldwide people with Down syndrome and disabilities continue to have their fundamental rights violated. For Nathaniel this was a violation of the most basic of human rights, the right to life.
We call on the government of South Africa and other governments worldwide to fulfill the rights of people with disabilities like Nathaniel to live in their communities safely without fear of exploitation, violence, or abuse, with equal opportunities to participate and be fully included. These rights are clearly defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Nathaniel’s death has parallels with that of Ethan Saylor, a 26-year-old with Down syndrome, in Maryland, the USA in 2013. Ethan’s death was an equally tragic and avoidable death at the hands of the police after he was dragged from a cinema and subsequently died. Ethan’s death led to the creation of LEAD, a training program for law enforcement on how to interact with people with intellectual disabilities. People with disabilities are directly involved in the delivery of the program.
We hope the tragic death of Nathaniel will lead governments worldwide to take the proactive steps necessary to prevent this from happening again.
This statement was supplied by Down Syndrome International
Update: August 28, 2020, @ 13:40
Minister of Police Bheki Cele visits the family of Nathaniel Julies in Eldorado Park this afternoon. Mother of the sixteen-year-old returned from the funeral parlor where her son’s lifeless body now lays.
After a discussion with the family, The minister addressed the residents at the flats: “We are here to see the family and the community because of what has happened. We hear what you are saying when you say you want justice…The police cannot investigate themselves that’s why the Independent Police Directorate (IPID) will investigate what happened and then we will be able to report to the community.
“Whoever committed the crime will face the law, it doesn’t matter who that person is,” said Cele. While the minister spoke, there were angry residents shouting that ‘ enough is enough’, some residents are also furious that one of the local leaders has been arrested after yesterday’s protest.
The minister is currently at the Eldorado Park police station where he addressed the media. The minister further shared that there are many communities that demand change within the police stations.
Minister Bheki Cele continues addressing the members of the media following the visit to the family of deceased 16 year old, Nathaniel Julias. #TakeCharge pic.twitter.com/Bm0J86LgQr
— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) August 28, 2020
He said that there are processes that they follow and that when there are chances that they find needed, they will do so. “We are waiting for the investigations to take place so that they can find out exactly what happened,” said the Cele.
Investigations started yesterday. “People don’t have to have faith in me, they must have faith in the system. There are many former police officers who are in prison because of their crimes.
@SAPoliceService Minister, General Bheki Cele addressing the members of the following the visit to Nathaniel Julias family in Eldorado Park. #TakeCharge pic.twitter.com/yt9IMzNy8w
— GP Department of Community Safety (@GP_CommSafety) August 28, 2020
“We have to restore the relationship between the police and the residents here, that is why we are here,” said Cele.
Residents claim that the police officer who allegedly shot Julies is known for terrorizing the community.
Minister Cele is currently still at the police station as residents try to speak to him.
Update: August 27, 2020 @ 09:20
Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Faith Mazibuko yesterday visited the family of the 16-year-old who was shot in Eldorado Park allegedly at the hands of the police. Mazibuko confirmed that the docket was removed from the Eldorado Park police station because the police cannot investigate each other.
She said that the Independent Police Directorate (IPID) will investigate the docket and they already started interviewing the police implicated.
“Their task is to interview witnesses. We plead with the community of Eldorado Park. They must allow that process to go on so that we can bring closure to the matter, and really know what exactly happened.
Mazibuko mentioned that the stories that they are hearing in relation to what transpired do not correlate because the police have their own account of events which is different from what the community is saying.
#Eldosprotest MEC Faith Mazibuko addressing the media in Eldorado Park @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/pAwJzDf7F1
— ntwaagae Seleka (@ntwaagae) August 27, 2020
“The sooner we allow the IPID to investigate, interview witnesses. Justice must be served, but it must be served with the correct measures so that we do not end up coming to a wrong conclusion.”
Mazibuko asserts that their ashamed of this incident and advises the police to always exercise patience when they talk to young people.
Following allegations by the Eldos community that this is not the first time such an incident has happened, another child has died at the hands of the police and nothing has been done regarding that alleged case. The minister assured that she has requested for that docket to be retrieved.
In her media address, Mazibuko stated that all the police who worked at the Eldorado Park are removed while the case is still being investigated.
“All the police that worked here have been shifted so that they are investigated properly and really bring the matter to a clause.”
UPDATE: August 27, 2020, @ 14:15
A standoff between residents of Eldorado Park and police continues outside the police station.
Residents are calling for the overhaul of the police force in the area following an incident that happened last night where a minor was allegedly shot and killed by the police.
The people are accusing the police of corruption and not doing their job of protecting them as residents.
Stunt grenades and rubber bullets have been fired by the police to try and disperse the crowd but the people are not backing down.
https://twitter.com/SowetoUrban/status/1298945016593776642?s=20
Arrests have been made while some are being treated on the scene for injuries.
An investigator from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate has arrived in the scene to try and talk to the residents.
He promised that an investigation into the alleged murder of the boy will be launched.
Our previous report mentioned that there was a shootout, allegations of which community members deny.
The police have not yet released a statement to address those allegations.
This is a developing story.
https://twitter.com/SowetoUrban/status/1298940633118318592?s=20
https://twitter.com/SowetoUrban/status/1298941142327873536?s=20
https://twitter.com/SowetoUrban/status/1298942157022285824?s=20
August 27, 2020 @ 11:18
An eyewitness account alleges that there was a shootout yesterday in Eldorado Park, Hillbrow flats following a tip-off about stollen car parts in the area of which the police attended to. The tip-off led to a shootout between the police and a gang that allegedly led to a stray bullet killing a teenage boy, it is not yet confirmed whether the bullet came from the police or the gang.
Eldorado Park residents are now protesting, burning tires at the Police Station demanding the police account for the death of the teenage boy. Turf Rd & Buckingham Ave have been closed off with rocks & burning tires next to the Eldorado Park SAPS.
Eldos police station on fire protesters burn it coz apparently they shoot a 16 year old down syndrome guy there pic.twitter.com/dizHmsC7Mx
— amapanyapanya (@msangoZA) August 27, 2020
Urban News is still waiting for the police statement regarding the allegations made by some community members.
Nothing has been confirmed yet by the police on the alleged shootout and how the boy was shot.
This is a developing story.
https://twitter.com/RiotAndAttackSA/status/1298912645182038016?s=20
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