Issued by: Ministry for Safety and Security
Secretary for Safety and Security, Azhar Cachalia, October 27, 1995.
I was relieved to learn that the figure released by the Human Rights Committee of 507 persons who allegedly died in police custody from January to September is in fact incorrect.
It appears that a figure of 168 has been arrived at after verification and 85 is attributable to incidents during or just before arrest.
I have requested the National Commissioner to provide a report of the circumstances regarding each incident so that we can make recommendations on how to reduce the number of death in policy custody.
The figure of 168 still highlights the imperative need for the independent Complaints Directorate to be set up as a priority for early next year.
The function of the Directorate among others will be to investigate any death in police custody or as result of police action.
Contact: Mulalo Maxwell Mulaudzi 082 373 2005
FIGURES:
-Gauteng 48 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 26 - cause still unknown (subject to investigation) 1 - fatally assaulted/injured by members of the public 6 - died in motor vehicle accident prior to arrest 3 - suicide in cells 11 - fatally assaulted by prisoners 1 -KwaZulu-Natal 47 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 37 - fatally assaulted/injured by members of the public 6 - cause still unknown, (subject to investigation) 3 - died in motor vehicle accident prior to arrest 1 -Eastern Cape 20 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 10 - cause still unknown (subject to investigation) 1 - fatally assaulted/injured by members of the public 3 - suicide 5 - shot while attempting to escape 1 -Northern Province 14 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 4 - cause still unknown (subject to investigation) 7 - died during transportation in police van 1 - suicide 2 -Western Cape 13 - suicide 9 - shot in cells by police officer 2 (subject to investigation) - natural causes 2 -North West 8 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 3 - cause still unknown (subject to investigation) 3 - suicide 2 -Mpumalanga 8 - cause still unknown (subject to investigation) 3 - suicide 5 -Free State 7 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 4 - suicide 3 -Northern Cape 3 - fatally wounded/injured during or before arrest 1 - natural causes 2 ====================================================================