Press release: LHR welcomes sentencing of police officers responsible for Mido Macia’s death

Lawyers for Human Rights is pleased and encouraged by the conviction and sentencing of the eight former Daveyton police officers who dragged Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia behind a police van before assaulting him while in custody where he died.

Meshack Malele, Thamsamqa Mgema, Percy Jonathan Mnisi, Bongamusa Mdluli, Sipho Sydwell Ngobeni, Lungisa Gwababa, Bongani Kolisi and Linda Sololo were sentenced to 15 years in imprisonment on Wednesday for their role in Macia’s death in 2013.

LHR is encouraged by Judge Bert Bam’s scathing condemnation of the former officers’ conduct. Bam stated that “the community depends on the police for protection and safety. Rogue policemen, for obvious reasons, are unacceptable in society and cannot be tolerated.” He went further to point out that there was an onus on officers to conduct themselves within the ambit of the law, even when confronted by aggressive communities.

Unfortunately allegations of torture and abuse against SAPS have become commonplace and we’ve seen a general lack of prosecution and accountability against those found guilty of brutality by state officials against members of the public. Hopefully this sentencing will turn the tide and serve as a warning to rogue officials who are responsible for the safety of our communities.  Brutality only results in further violence and does nothing to bring perpetrators of crime to book. The rising scourge of incidents involving police brutality is something every South African must stand against.