Benoni - One of the police officers implicated in the death of a Daveyton taxi driver was assaulted by the driver before his arrest, the Benoni Magistrate's Court heard on Friday.
Elias Tshole, for Thamsanqa Ncema, 35, read out his client's affidavit in court.
In it, Ncema alleged that Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia, 27, was blocking the road with his taxi on February 26.
"I asked him to move and he insulted me and told me I am a useless cop," Ncema said.
Ncema claimed Macia grabbed a fellow officer's gun and pointed it at them.
He later handed it back and Warrant Officer Meshack Malele, 45, went to call for backup.
Macia's driver's license was taken and he then "tussled" with Ncema, after he asked to get it back.
Ncema said Macia was arrested after backup arrived and was taken to the police station.
"I was caught by surprise to be told that the person had died, as he has never complained about any injuries," Ncema said.
Ncema and Malele, along with Motome Walter Ramatlou, Percy Mnisi, 26, Bongumusa Mdluli, 25, Sipho Ngobeni, 30, Lungisa Ewababa, 31, Bongani Kolisi, 27, and Linda Sololo, 56, appeared in court for their bail application.
Mnisi said in an affidavit that he assisted Ncema after he received a call for backup.
Mdluli said when he arrived at the scene, members of the public were throwing objects at the police.
He also saw "someone" at the back of a police bakkie and rushed to tell the driver.
Ewababa said he was at the steering wheel of the bakkie and began to drive after a window was broken in the commotion.
He only realised Macia was at the back after being told by Mdluli.
He said officers put Macia into the vehicle and he drove Macia to the station.
Sololo said he had a previous case pending, where he was charged with defeating the ends of justice. He is currently out on bail for that case.
He said he suffered from hypertension and had to take medication for it.
The nine were charged with the murder of Macia.
Macia was allegedly tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on February 26.
An eyewitness filmed the assault.
Macia was found dead in the local police station's holding cells several hours later.
A post-mortem revealed that he had died of head and internal injuries. - Sapa