Daveyton – praag.org

‘Dragging’ cops change legal team

The Daveyton policemen implicated in the killing of taxi driver and Mozambique national Emido Macia have ditched their legal team, in a renewed effort to get bail.

Represented by an entirely new legal team, they asked for a postponement in the Benoni Magistrates Court, on July 26.

The defence requested the postponement to allow them time to consult further with their clients, to prepare for a bail application.

They said they will present new facts in the application. South Africa’s police Chief suspended the eight police officers involved in the death of the suspect who had been tied to the back of an official vehicle and dragged for about 500 metres.

The officers were caught on mobile phone footage dragging Mozambican national Mido Macia, a 27-year-old taxi driver, behind their vehicle while driving at full speed. Officials confirmed the man later died of head injuries while in police custody.

The incident occurred in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, and was apparently sparked by an argument about Macia parking on the wrong side of the road.

Magistrate Sam Makamu granted them their wish, postponing the case to August 13.

The new legal team for accuseds two, three, four, six , seven, eight and nine comprises attorney Benny Ndaba and advocate Marius van Wyngaardt, with attorney Patric Sithole representing accuseds one and five.

Ndaba told the City Times that he believes they stand a chance of being granted bail. – looklocal.co.za

Black killer-teen ate mother’s ear

A 19-year-old black Daveyton teenager, who allegedly ate his mother’s ear after killing her, is in a critical condition in hospital.

At around 3am, on Saturday, July 27, residents in Jumba Street in the black township east of Johannesburg, heard the woman scream.

“They went to the house and found the woman (44) lying with her son sucking blood from her wounds,” said police spokesman Capt Alfred Nakana.

She had been stabbed several times in the upper body, with a screwdriver.

“The woman’s ear had been mutilated and neighbours said they had seen the boy chewing it,” said Nakana.

He added that the woman’s lips were also badly damaged, which showed that the son had tried to remove them as well.

Neighbours overpowered the teen, who was severely beaten with stones and sticks.

Nakana said the 19-year-old is under police guard in hospital.

He will be charged with murder.

Police suspect this to be yet another “satanic ritual” murder.

In another incident, on May 23, at midnight, a 14-year-old teen hacked to death four members of his family with an axe, in what is also believed to be a satanic ritual, in the neighbouring Etwatwa.

He is currently facing four murder charges in the Benoni Magistrates Court. – looklocal.co.za

Newborn eaten by dogs

A new-born baby was eaten by dogs in Daveyton.

The child was dumped in a field in Gabon, on June 27.

Spokesperson Capt Alfred Nakana said it is not clear whether the child was dead or alive when it was dumped.

The dog owner, who lives near the dump, became concerned when he noticed his dogs feeding on something on the dump.

“He went to investigate and saw that they were eating a baby,” said Nakana.

The police were called to the scene and found the dogs had already eaten the child’s upper body.

Nakana said they suspect the child was dumped at night, after its birth.

The police are searching for the mother of the child and have urged anyone with information to come forward.

The Daveyton police can be contacted on 011 845 9800.

Daveyton was also the place where a minibus taxi driver, allegedly at the hands of police, was killed recently in a barbaric act.

“What is happening is worrying…. It is a sign that we are a very angry nation and calls for something to be done,” said ANC heavyweight Gwede Mantashe.

“If you look at what happened in Daveyton, no normal person can do this.”

Mozambican Mido Macia, 27, was found dead in the Daveyton police station cells.

He was allegedly attacked by policemen and dragged behind a police van after being arrested for a traffic violation.

Eight policemen who were arrested in connection with the attack are expected to apply for bail in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Xenophobic

According to the newspaper, Mantashe called Macia’s death a xenophobic killing.

“If you are a foreigner and killed in our country, it is xenophobic,” he was quoted as saying.

“What happened is barbaric…. Whether South African or Mozambican, this is terrible…. It is a human being who died in a most inhumane way.”

Mantashe said this was not a narrow issue.

“You can see it in the cases of police brutality, violence against women and children, and service delivery protests.”

“We need to look at what is the problem we as a society are facing. Are we traumatised?” he asked. – SAPA