ANGELIQUE SERRAO, MURRAY WILLIAMS, BRONWYNNE JOOSTE and SAPA
The man who died after being beaten by police at a service delivery protest in Ficksburg was trying to help an elderly man when he was attacked.
The brutal beating and shooting of Ficksburg resident Andries Tatane, 33, was screened to millions of South Africans last night on SABC News. The footage showed police officers cornering him during the protests in the Free State, and then several police officers beating him with batons.
Free State police today said they had launched an urgent investigation to identify the policemen involved, who would be suspended immediately.
Two witnesses today described how they saw their friend and neighbour die in front of them.
Seipati Lebusa said he had known Tatane since school.
He taught maths and science to Grade 12s. “He was a man that was passionate about education. He volunteered to teach children for no pay for years. He was always positive and always would say some day a true, strong leader would rise in South Africa.”
Lebusa said she felt sick after witnessing her friend die.
She said a group of people were watching the protest from a municipality building, when police had used water cannon to disperse them.
“People had dispersed and police were pouring water on people. Andries approached them and asked them to stop. They physically pulled him to one side and five or six policemen then started beating him up.”
Lebusa said she heard someone shout: “Shoot!”, but did not see anyone pull the trigger.
Suddenly they moved away from him and she saw Tatane lying on the ground. “He got up and then we saw he was covered in blood. We rushed over but he fell to the ground and died there.”
She said he had gaping hole near his heart.
Lebusa said there appeared to be no reason for the attack. “We all stood there and cried, like we were kids again. I felt sick,” she said.
Tseliso Mtepekoa was nearer to Tatane when the attack occurred. He said police were pouring water on an old man and Tatane became angry.
“He asked them to pour water on him rather and he removed his T-shirt and said: ‘Throw it on me rather than on an old man’.”
Mtepekoa said a group of policemen then rushed at Tatane and started beating him with batons. He said Tatane tried to fight back with his fists.
“A policeman suddenly shouted: ‘Shoot!’, and I saw him try to pull his pepper spray out of his belt. I didn’t see or hear anyone do any shooting, but Andries then fell down.”
Mtepekoa said Tatane stood up and everyone saw he had blood all over his chest.
“We thought he was shot and a policeman shouted: ‘Stop!’ and they moved away from him. We rushed to him then,” he said.
Sam Makhele, Free State police spokesman, told the Cape Argus today: “Provincial commissioner Calvin Sengani ordered an immediate internal investigation. In a crowd situation you have several policemen around. But he will suspend them once they are known.
“This matter is also now a murder investigation.”
Makhele said of the death: “We condemn it.”
The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) would visit the area today to continue its investigation, said spokesman Moses Dlamini.
He added that ICD officials had visited Tatane’s family yesterday and would return today.
Dlamini told an AP journalist the cause of death and whether police were responsible were unclear.
He said police fired water cannon at protesters. He said a younger man tried to intervene when the cannon were turned on older men, and police beat the younger man.
Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa today expressed his confidence that the ICD would, without fear or favour, investigate the killing.
“We noted the unfortunate incident where there was a scuffle between a striker and the police. At this point it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions on what triggered the alleged incident and the resultant death…”
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said:
“In what the ANC can only describe as resembling apartheid era police strong arm tactics, showing total disregard for human rights enshrined in theconstitution, members of the SAPS… violently killed an unarmed protester after severely beating him…
“The ANC strongly condemns the brutal beating of the man to death, a chilling and sad scene which was later shown to millions on… the SABC.”