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Gallo Images / Die Burger / Jaco Marais
Five police officers accused of assaulting a Vredenburg man who later died appeared in the dock of the local magistrates court Thursday on a murder charge.
The case against Alvin Koopman, Franklin van Rooyen, Mzamo Mbovane, Guilliam van Zyl and Ronaldo Joubert was postponed until December 3 to request bail, confirmed the provincial spokesman for the National Prosecutor’s Office, Eric Ntabazalila.
Independent Police Investigations Directorate spokeswoman Ndileka Cola said the suspects were arrested on Wednesday following the death of Jason Heyns last month.
“It is alleged that on October 23, police officers while detaining the deceased … attacked him and took him to hospital for medical attention,” he said.
SEE | ‘Police are pressured every day,’ Malema says as assault trial postponed
“The deceased was immediately transferred by the Vredenburg Hospital to the Groote Schuur Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. Seven days later, he died in the hospital.”
Cola said police did not report the incident as required. IPID learned of the allegations when Heyns’ family filed the case with management on November 3.
“IPID conducted an in-depth investigation into this incident that led to the identification and arrest of the five members.”
All five were returned to custody after their appearance, he said.
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