THE family of a Ulundi taxi driver who died last week – allegedly as a result of police brutality – has rejected the state postmortem which concluded he died of natural causes.
Lindani ‘Mandondo’ Dludla (31) of Mbilane Reserve outside Ulundi, was reportedly accused by members of the Public Order Policing (POP) unit of being in possession of an illegal firearm. Police were reportedly acting on a tip-off, but Dludla denied the accusations.
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A source alleged that the police officers locked themselves inside the bedroom with Dludla before taking him away in handcuffs. He later returned home in a ‘terrible condition’, and died on arrival at Nkonjeni Hospital.
Dludla’s death sparked outrage in the community who, from Sunday night, blockaded the R66 in and around Ulundi, closing off the CBD.
The violent protests saw vehicles burnt, and roads closed with burning tyres and other debris.
It was reported at the time, that after the initial protest group was dispersed, and five people arrested on charges of public violence, a group of 3 000 community members re-started the protest at 2am on Monday.
The allegations of police brutality are under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Read the full story in the ZO Weekender of 16 October.
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