9 POLICEMEN SUSPENDED AFTER ASSUALT ON REPORTER

Nine Gugulethu, Cape Town policemen were on Monday, 20 June suspended
from duty following an assault on "Cape Argus" journalist Thabo Mabaso at
Gugulethu police station on June 27. West Metropolitan police chief Ganief
Daniels said the decision to suspend the police on full pay was taken late on
Monday. The policemen were informed about their suspension on Tuesday,
21 July. Daniels said that despite several requests, they did not attend an
identification parade, which amounted to a failure to cooperate with the
Internal Complaints Directorate and resulted in further delays in the criminal
investigation. "Although the legal rights of the members not to take part in an
identity parade are fully respected, the stalemate to which it gave rise was
morally indefensible," said Daniels. He said that this has led to an internal
investigation after permission was granted by the ICD to do so on July 16
in so far as it did not interfere with the criminal investigation. According to
Daniels, the internalinquiry established that there was a substantial possibility
that members concerned may be guilty of serious misconduct. He indicated
that the continued presence of these policemen at the Gugulethu police station
and the lack of satisfactory progress in the criminal investigation has resulted in
a considerable breakdown in trust between the Gugulethu police and the
community. He said that this has affected the operational efficiency of the
station in terms of service and delivery.

BACKGROUND

Thabo Mabaso, on June 27 was allegedly beaten by 10 policemen at the Gugulethu
police station after reporting a traffic accident. It is our understanding that although
Mabaso went to the station to report the accident as an ordinary citizen, he did
inform the police that he was a reporter. He was detained overnight, released the
following day. Mabaso was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged on
June 29, but has lost sight in his left eye. "Cape Argus" editor Moegsien Williams
said at the time that he was shocked and appalled by the alleged assault on Mabaso.
Meanwhile, the ANC Western Cape leader Ebrahim Rasool called for the immediate
suspension of the policemen on duty at the time of the alleged assault. Rasool said
that those responsible did not deserve to be members of the SA Police Service and
had shown no respect for the constitution and the country's laws. The Cape Town
police then launched an internal investigation into the matter.

Mabaso's treatment is indicative of a lack of respect by the police for the public
in general. It is sad that it is only because of Mabaso's media connections that
this case was brought to prominence.

ENDS