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South Africa suspends taxi driver arrest 'drag' police South Africa: Eight police arrested over drag death
(about 1 hour later)
South African police officers implicated in the death of a Mozambican taxi driver dragged down a street tied to a back of a van have been suspended. Eight South African police officers have been arrested over the death of a Mozambican man who was apparently dragged behind a police vehicle.
The incident was recorded by a bystander and broadcast on television. The man later died in police custody. An investigation was launched after video footage emerged showing the man hauled through the streets with his hands cuffed to a police van.
Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega thanked people for revealing "callous and unacceptable behaviour".Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega thanked people for revealing "callous and unacceptable behaviour".
South African President Jacob Zuma had already condemned the incident as "horrific" and "unacceptable". President Jacob Zuma called the incident "horrific" and "unacceptable".
The eight officers were initially suspended pending an investigation. It was later announced that they had been arrested and would appear in court on 4 March.
Taxi driver Mido Macia, 27, died of head injuries and internal bleeding after his arrest in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, an initial post-mortem found.Taxi driver Mido Macia, 27, died of head injuries and internal bleeding after his arrest in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, an initial post-mortem found.
He was reportedly detained for parking his vehicle in a way that blocked traffic.He was reportedly detained for parking his vehicle in a way that blocked traffic.
The video shows a large crowd gathering, as uniformed policemen tie him to a van, dragging him as they drive away. The video, apparently recorded by a bystander on a mobile phone on Tuesday, shows a large crowd watching as uniformed policemen tie him to a van, dragging him as they drive away.
Public anger grew after the footage was broadcast on television.
South Africa's police watchdog - the Independent Police Investigative Directorate - is examining the video as part of its investigation.
'Shock and outrage''Shock and outrage'
The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says a small crowd, mostly women, gathered on Friday morning outside the police station where the 27-year-old taxi driver died in the holding cells. The BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg says a small group of protesters, mostly women, gathered on Friday morning outside the police station where the 27-year-old taxi driver died in the holding cells.
Some of the chants blamed the police for brutality. Some of the chants accused the police of brutality.
This tragic incident has shocked the country and a dark cloud is hovering above the normally quiet township of Daveyton, an hour's drive east of Johannesburg.
I am standing outside the gates of the police station whose commander has been suspended pending the investigation into the death of Mido Macia - inside the police station, it is business as usual.
Outside, a small crowd, comprising mostly unemployed women, has gathered. With clenched fists they are singing old anti-apartheid liberation songs and chanting derogatory slogans about the police. As one police van, similar to the one which dragged Mr Macia, drove through the gates of the police station, they began singing in Zulu "Senzeni na?" - "What have we done to deserve this?".
One woman said the police are losing the respect of the very community they are supposed to protect.
Commissioner Phiyega said that the eight officers allegedly involved had been suspended and disarmed and the local station commander had been removed from his post.
The South African Police Service expressed "extreme shock and outrage" at the mobile phone footage.The South African Police Service expressed "extreme shock and outrage" at the mobile phone footage.
"From the video which has gone viral, it is obvious that the rights of Mido Macia were violated in the most extreme form," it said in a statement,"From the video which has gone viral, it is obvious that the rights of Mido Macia were violated in the most extreme form," it said in a statement,
"The behaviour displayed in that video, when it is committed by police who are expected to serve and protect, is to be abhorred," it added."The behaviour displayed in that video, when it is committed by police who are expected to serve and protect, is to be abhorred," it added.
In a statement, the opposition Democratic Alliance questioned why Commissioner Phiyega had not ordered the arrest of the officers.
"We need to tackle the causes of police brutality, not just the symptoms," Dianne Kohler, the DA's shadow police minister, added.
South Africa's police force was already under intense scrutiny after officers shot dead 34 striking miners last August.South Africa's police force was already under intense scrutiny after officers shot dead 34 striking miners last August.
Its credibility was also dented when it emerged that the lead detective in the murder case against athlete Oscar Pistorius was himself accused of attempted murder.Its credibility was also dented when it emerged that the lead detective in the murder case against athlete Oscar Pistorius was himself accused of attempted murder.
The police service said it would give its full support to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate as it looked into Mr Macia's death.The police service said it would give its full support to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate as it looked into Mr Macia's death.
"We fully support the principle of police being policed and we shall be transparent about the outcome of the investigation," it said."We fully support the principle of police being policed and we shall be transparent about the outcome of the investigation," it said.
Justin Ndlovu, the chair of the Benoni Taxi Association, said he knew Mr Macia and had last seen him last week.Justin Ndlovu, the chair of the Benoni Taxi Association, said he knew Mr Macia and had last seen him last week.
"He was a very humble guy; he leaves behind one child in South Africa," he told the BBC."He was a very humble guy; he leaves behind one child in South Africa," he told the BBC.
"His brother died last year and he had become the guardian of his brother's wife and three children [also living in South Africa].""His brother died last year and he had become the guardian of his brother's wife and three children [also living in South Africa]."