Civil organisation and community members in River plan a march to Norwood and Sandringham Police Stations

The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in River Park, Ward 81 of the City of Johannesburg said it will give all necessary support to the family of a man who died in police custody.

Webster Matshitela (34) died in Norwood Police Station holding cells on 27 December last year following his arrest by Sandringham police for pointing a gun at one of the community members on 26 December.

His family said the South African Police Service (SAPS) did not bother to inform them about Matshitela’s death until one community member who heard the news on the streets came to inform the family.

Sanco deputy chairperson in Ward 81, Mush Raletjena, said the residents organisation affiliated to the ANC will offer support to the family to find answers from the police.

“We as Sanco in Ward 81 and community of River Park at large will offer our support to help the Matshitela family finds answers from the police. We do not believe that Webster hanged himself with a blanket as police allege. We will also organise a mass march to the two police stations (Norwood and Sandringham) to demand the truth. It is not the first time we hear rumours that people are being killed in these police stations.”

Raletjena added that his organisation will file papers to be the friends of the court when the matter goes to court.

“We are waiting for the family to open the case and if the matter goes to court we will file papers as Sanco to be the friends of a court. We will not allow corrupt police officers to do as they please in our community,” he said.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said the matter was reported and the investigating officer on the matter was on leave.

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