SOUTH AFRICA: Man Killed by Police on Live Television

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Submitted by Betty Dibiah on Sat, 16/04/2011 - 2:13pm

The 33 years old man was amongst protesters in Ficksburg in South Africa, and died while protesting against the lack of social amenities in the community right before our eyes on the television crew.

There's an on-going debate in the country over the impropriety or otherwise of the national broadcaster showing the moments before the young man lost his life at the hands of the police. Some reports are even using the expression 'allegedly shot by the police' but it was clear what went on. I saw it again on another tv station this morning.

This is what we saw on Wednesday, Tatane was at the front of a peaceful march and then Police begin to round up people mostly men into a waiting van. 45 of these people appeared in court the next day and were set free with a warning.

The beating

Tatane, now shirtless, tries to defy the water canon and rubber bullets used by the police to disperse the protesters.

As he tries to intervene in the arrests of the old men, he is surrounded by the police and the smoke of a shot is seen from his left side at close range. This is while he is being beaten to the ground by about six policemen.

When he is left by the police,he is seen clutching his chest on realising that he has been shot. His now dazed eyes look unseeingly at an old man holding his hand and yelling for help. He unsteadily gets back on his feet and then slumps shortly after. By the time the paramedics came,it was too late.

Of course his family and community are traumatised but the protests continued. This is just one among a string of diverse protests in different parts of the country ahead of the May 18 municipal elections.

A worrying trend

Andries Tatane joins a worrying list of victims of police brutality in today's South Africa. Among the recent cases, 15 policemen appeaared in court for killing a man and dumping his body by the roadside. Some human rights protection groups in the country like the Kwazulu-Natal Violence Monitor have been voicing their worries about what they refer to as a growing trend and the incapability of the Independent Complaints Directorate to cope with cases because it is short staffed.

Reports say the officers allegedly involved in Tatane's case are still on duty. The Police authorities are yet to speak on this incident 'till investigations are concluded'.