The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the death of an Uitsig oupa who was allegedly beaten and shocked to death by cops for buying dop during the nationwide lockdown.
Hartseer relatives of Petrus Miggels, 55, say they are still in shock after seeing him collapse in the front yard of his home in Carnation Avenue on Friday morning.
His girlfriend, Cecelia Meintjies, 55, says Petrus, fondly known as “Pietman”, was sent to a smokkie by a neighbour who wanted beers.
“The neighbour approached him and gave him R100 to buy beers and the neighbour said he would give him something,” she explains.
“He should not have done it but he went and bought the two beers and then police at the base camp caught him.”
SHOCKING: Cecelia Meintjies. Picture: Leon Knipe
Cecelia says shortly before noon, Pietman arrived home and told his family what happened shortly before collapsing.
“He told us they caught him and moered him with a hammer and shocked him with a taser.
“He was in lots of pain and then he collapsed in the yard.
“The paramedics came and told us sorry, he is dead.
“They say he had a heart attack because the police shocked him. I couldn’t believe it, he was a healthy man.”
Relatives say they watched in horror as his body turned blue and he became unresponsive.
IPID spokesperson, Sontaga Seisa, confirms they are investigating the case and says: “We do confirm that we received a report of death as a result of police action in Ravensmead area. We took the case docket for further investigation. No arrest [have been] made.”
According to a senior police officer, who asked not to be named, tasers are not police issued and may not be used by regular officers.
“Tasers are not issued by the police and may not be used. They should just have arrested him for violating the lockdown.
“The only officers who are allowed to use tasers are the SAPS Special Task Force.”
SCENE: Paramedics, onlookers in Carnation Avenue, Uitsig. Pictures: Leon Knipe/ANA and supplied
Cecelia says she is devastated at losing her partner of 20 years and questions why police just didn’t arrest him.
“He was a man who worked for his family until last year when the factory he worked at closed down,” she says.
“I understand that he was doing something he was not supposed to, but why didn’t they just arrest him and put him in jail? Why did they have to beat him and kill him?
“Even the dik dinge of the police who came to our house said this was onnodig. But nothing will bring him back.”
