The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Monday confirmed the investigation into the death of a 37-year-old man in the back of a police vehicle at the Rondebosch South African Police Service (SAPS) station.
IPID spokesman Moses Dlamini said that the incident happened on November 3.
“It is alleged that on 03 November 2016 at 5:10pm police received information that the deceased was allegedly selling cellphones outside the Pick n Pay in Main Rd, Rondebosch, which is situated across the road from the police station. SAPS members attended to the complaint and found the deceased at the scene with cellphones,” Dlamini said in a statement.
“SAPS members arrived on the scene managed to handcuff the deceased. The deceased was placed in the back of the patrol vehicle with his hands cuffed behind his back. On arrival at the police station, at 6:10pm, the SAPS members opened the patrol vehicle door and removed the deceased from the vehicle.”
Dlamini said the officers observed that the man was hyperventilating and struggling to breathe so they called paramedics. The paramedics declared the man dead.
On November 4, a post mortem was conducted before the burial of the deceased, who is Muslim.
“The cause of death is currently unknown. An inquest docket has been registered. No arrest has been made,” Dlamini said.