Daily Sun (August 29 2013) - SIX months after the horror death of Mido Macia, his family is still in the dark over their compensation claim against South Africa's minister of police. And the deadline for submitting notice of a claim expires tomorrow - less than 48 hours away! MIDO'S FATHER JOSEFA TOLD DAILY SUN YESTERDAY: "NO ONE TELLS ME ANYTHING!"
Speaking from his home in Mozambique, Josefa said he last heard from lawyers acting for the Mozambique government in June. After that - nothing. Mido died on 28 February this year after being dragged behind a Daveyton police van.
Daily Sun published a reader's video of the dragging and the horrifying pictures were seen all over the world. At the time, a South African law firm offered to act for Mido's grieving family free of charge in a court action for compensation.
But the Mozambican government stepped in and kicked the SA lawyers off the case after speaking to Josefa. A Mozambican lawyer, Jose Nascimento, then promised Mido's father that a "political solution" would be found for the family's distress.
Nascimento was quoted by the SABC in April as saying he was planning to take court action against the Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, but he was hoping for an out-of-court settlement.
The six-month statutory time allowed to lodge a case from the date of the crime expires at close of business tomorrow. Despite making extensive inquiries of police authorities yesterday, Daily Sun was unable to establish whether the required Letter of Demand had been lodged in good time.
We finally managed to speak to Nascimento, who refused to give us any details. "All I can tell you is that I understand Josefa's frustrations, but we are looking after Mido Macia's interests," he said.
Earlier, Josefa told Daily Sun: "All I know about my son's case is what I read in newspapers. I was told things were in order, but now I see that the time is not on our side," said Josefa.
"All the authorities including the lawyers are silent, as if nothing has happened. Money will never bring back my son, but at least it will help his little boy," said the old man.
In a criminal case, nine cops have pleaded not guilty to murdering Mido, who died of internal injuries in the cells of Daveyton Police Station after being dragged there.
They each pleaded not guilty and were finally given bail of R5 000 each in Benoni Magistrates Court on 13 August.
They are due to appear again on 11 November.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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