Johannesburg - A taxi marshal's account of what happened the day Daveyton taxi driver Mido Macia died is untrue, the Benoni Magistrate's Court heard on Tuesday.
Police Warrant Officer Meshack Malele disputed the testimony of Julius Skhosana.
Malele and eight other officers implicated in Macia's death are re-applying for bail after their legal representatives told the court they had new evidence which could see the court overturn its earlier decision to deny them bail.
Malele, 46, denied Skhosana's claim that police assaulted Macia at the scene.
“The witness does not even mention that 'General' tried to take my firearm,” said Malele.
General was Macia's nickname.
“He doesn't even mention that I was assaulted at the scene. Other police officers intervened. I nearly died 1/8from the assault 3/8,” said Malele.
Macia was filmed being tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on February 26.
Police confronted him because his taxi was apparently blocking traffic.
A scuffle ensued and he was taken to the local police station, where he was found dead in the holding cells several hours later.
Sapa