Statement by Dr Mamphela Ramphele of Agang on the death of Mido Macia

Dr Mamphela Ramphele of Agang today expressed her deep shock at the death of Mido Macia, reportedly at the hands of police who dragged him to the Daveyton police station tied to the back of a police van.

The Daily Sun newspaper reported on Thursday that Mr. Macia, a Mozambican, became involved in an argument with police over where he parked his taxi. The newspaper also reported that other prisoners at the police station alleged he had been beaten up by police after arriving there.

Dr Ramphele said: "Before passing final judgement on the full circumstances of Mr. Macia's death, we must wait for the outcome of the police investigations, but it is clear from the cell phone evidence the Daily Sun collected that Mr. Macia was not put inside the van, as would be normal police practice. Instead he was tied to the van and dragged on his back down the road. By whatever standards we judge it, this is a clear act of police brutality."

"Coming after Marikana, I am deeply shocked by this behaviour. The fact that police did this quite openly, in front of a crowd of onlookers, is an example of the culture of impunity which has taken root in our public service. Some members of the police - who are no longer a service but a force, as they were under apartheid - are behaving with unbelievable callousness."

Statement issued by Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Agang, March 1 2013

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