Durban - Allegations of police brutality at the Glebelands Hostel, near Umlazi, south of Durban, are a matter of concern, KwaZulu-Natal community safety MEC Willies Mchunu said on Thursday.
Mchunu's office received reports that people living in the hostel were afraid of police after a man was allegedly killed after being taken away by police, spokesman Kwanele Ncalane said in a statement.
“Hostel inmates further allege that a number of people had allegedly been taken away by police and later assaulted.”
Captain Thulani Zwane said a murder case had been opened following the killing.
“The matter was reported at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for further investigation and we cannot comment about it anymore,” Zwane said.
Mchunu said: “In South Africa police work under strict conditions which forbid the assault and torture of suspects”.
He urged anyone with information about the alleged police brutality at the hostel to approach Ipid to help the investigation.
Sapa