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The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) must investigate the incident in which two off-duty police officers allowed the killers of a 25 year old man to get away.

On Tuesday, Mohamed Faiyaz Kazi died after he and his business partner, Anser Mohmood, were seriously assaulted by two men on Monday for no other reason other than because they were Muslim. The City Press reported this weekend that two off-duty police officers in fact arrived on the scene and did nothing to arrest the attackers nor assist the victims. This is not conduct befitting those who are supposed to protect us and keep us safe.

The off-duty police officers reportedly asked if the men wished to lay charges and they apparently said no. How did they reasonably expect two men who were barely conscious to be able to respond? In fact, why did they not arrest the perpetrators on the spot?

Instead they drove off.

At the very least, they should have made a citizen’s arrest right then and there. Instead, the attackers were only arrested on Saturday. By this point, they could have disappeared and the family of Mohamed Kazi would never see justice take its course.

The Code of Ethics of the South African Police Service states that “Employees of the SAPS respect and uphold the law at all times”. This is reiterated in the Code of Conduct in which SAPS members swear to create a safe and secure environment for all South Africans.

The IPID must investigate the conduct of these SAPS members and provide answers to the community as to why these police officers did nothing. The simple answer that they were off-duty is not good enough.

I will be writing to the IPID today to request a full investigation into the incident.