Johannesburg - The eight policemen implicated in the murder of an East Rand taxi driver were arrested on Friday, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said.
The suspects, two warrant officers and six constables, were arrested at the Benoni police station, spokesman Moses Dlamini said.
All eight would face a murder charge. They were expected to appear in the Daveyton Magistrate's Court on Monday.
"The suspects will remain in custody until they appear in court. The Ipid is committed to ensuring that the suspects are held accountable and brought before the courts."
Mido Macia, 27, a taxi driver and Mozambican national, was tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton, on the East Rand, on Tuesday. An eyewitness filmed the assault. Macia died in the local police station's cells later that day. A post mortem revealed he died of head and internal injuries.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions alleged the police had said that Macia died after other men attacked him in the police holding cells.
Dlamini said on Thursday that two policemen switched on their siren, indicating that Macia should move his minibus, when they saw it obstructing traffic in Empilweni Street.
"It is also alleged that the taxi driver then assaulted the constable and took his police firearm. The warrant officer overpowered the taxi driver and handed the firearm back to his colleague," he said.
"When back-up arrived, the constable was still at the scene, struggling to put the suspect in the police van," Dlamini said.
Officers put the "resisting suspect" into the police van and took him to the police cells. In the video, local residents are heard asking policemen what the man had done. Some shout warnings to the policemen, saying their actions were being recorded.
Earlier, Daveyton residents staged a protest outside the local police station, demanding the removal of the officers implicated in the crime.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane and other government officials visited Macia's home in Daveyton.
On Thursday, President Jacob Zuma condemned the incident.
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega said the eight police officers had been suspended.
The Daveyton police station commander was also removed from his post.
"From the video, which has gone viral, it is obvious that the rights of Mido Macia were violated in the most extreme form," she said.
"We are... outraged with what happened."
Phiyega said they were conducting their own investigations. She urged eyewitnesses to come forward with information. - Sapa