Tag: SA Police Service

Suspected criminal found hanged in a police cell

baby_rapeDuring the early hours of yesterday morning Sunday 26 January 2014 at about 05:00, during  a routine cell visit in the Pietermaritzburg Police Station, members found the body of an adult male hanging from an overhead burglar guards. He was subsequently identified as Stanley Bongani Mkhize (46).It is believed that one of the prisoners who were in a cell with Mkhize woke up and found Mkhize hanging from the neck by a state issued blanket and immediately informed members. No foul play is suspected. A post mortem will be held to determine the exact cause of death. The suspect had been arrested for a murder case which occurred in the Plessislaer area in 2011.

It is alleged that on the 10 May 2011 at about 20:00, the Shoba family were returning to their home in the Imbali Unit J area and were about to enter their house when they were attacked and shot at by a group of unknown gunmen. Both the victim’s, a 38-year-old man and his 35-year-old wife, sustained gunshot wounds to their upper body and were immediately rushed to a hospital in the city. The male victim sustained gunshot wounds to his head and died on arrival at the hospital, whilst his wife sustained gunshot wounds to her chest. She was treated and later discharged.

 In June 2011 Police made a breakthrough and arrested Mkhize and his two co-accused in the Plessislaer area in Pietermaritzburg for murder and attempted murder of the victims, however, the suspects were released on bail and Mkhize then absconded court. A warrant for his arrest was issued and an appeal for his whereabouts was published in the media. The trial of his two  co-accused continued in court and in 2013 both accused were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.

On Friday, 24 January 2014 at about 00:30, members of the SAPS Pietermaritzburg Organised Crime Unit, on information received, proceeded to the Edendale area in Plessislaer where they spotted the wanted Mkhize driving in a vehicle along the road. They immediately stopped the vehicle and re-arrested the suspect. He was expected to make his court appearance for the alleged murder and attempted murder of the Shoba family today, Monday 27 January 2014.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. – SAPS media service     

SA Police to defend anti-white policy in Constitutional Court

Renate Barnard... too white for promotion
Renate Barnard… too white for promotion

The South African Police Service (SAPS) now wants to refer the Renate Barnard affirmative action case to the Constitutional Court. Yesterday, court papers were served on Solidarity which is representing Barnard. Solidarity will oppose the SAPS’s application for leave to appeal.

‘Solidarity is shocked by the SAPS’s decision to defend its unlawful race practices all the way to the Constitutional Court,’ Dirk Hermann, Solidarity’s Executive Officer said in a statement. According to Hermann, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein passed an excellent judgment that balances the rights of all. ‘We get the impression that the SAPS believes that affirmative action annuls the constitutional rights to equality and dignity of white employees like Barnard. Should that be the case, then affirmative action would have a higher authority than the Constitution itself. This would imply that South Africa is an affirmative action state and not a constitutional state. We are of the opinion that an appeal to the Constitutional Court is inappropriate. The SAPS should abide by the Supreme Court of Appeal’s judgment.’

Hermann says the greatest injustice brought about by this is the time it is taking to get justice for Barnard. ‘She has been fighting for justice for the past 8 years, and a constitutional court application will simply delay this process even more. She exudes passion to serve the South African public, and surely something is patently wrong if the colour of her skin is the only stumbling block preventing her to live out her calling.’

Hermann added that although Solidarity believes that, for Barnard’s sake, it is inappropriate to refer this matter to the Constitutional Court, it will be advantageous for South Africa to obtain legal certainty about these burning issues in the highest court.

In November, the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein ruled in favour of Solidarity and Barnard. The SAPS was ordered to pay the costs associated with the litigation in the Labour, Labour Appeal Courts as well as in the Supreme Court of Appeal, as well as Barnard’s backdated remuneration.

Barnard’s affirmative action struggle began as far back as 2005. Twice, she had applied for the same position. In both instances she was found to be the best candidate and the interviewing panel recommended her appointment. The position was, however, left vacant. The position was advertised a third time, but was scrapped after she had again applied for it.