The investigation into the shooting and beating of Andries Tatane during protest action in Ficksburg could be finished by the end of the week.
Independent Complaints Directorate spokesperson Moses Dlamini, speaking on Monday outside the Ficksburg Regional Court where six public order police officers appeared in connection with Tatane’s death, said there was a possibility of more arrests.
He earlier confirmed that Tatane died “from shooting” when questioned about the post-mortem report.
Tatane was killed last week, allegedly by the police officers after challenging them to spray him with a water cannon during a protest march.
The case against Olebogeng Mphirime, Tehedi Moeketsie, Jonas Skosana and Mphonyane Ntaje – facing charges of assault – and Israel Moiloa and Mothusi Maqana – facing charges of murder – was postponed to April 26 for bail hearings.
SABC television footage showed a group of police officers beating Tatane with batons, after which he was seen holding his chest and looking down at the blood. He collapsed and died 20 minutes later.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Dawood Adam, said the NPA had senior personnel working on the legal processes in an effort to bring finalisation to the issue as soon as possible.
He said the case was of national and international importance because the public’s confidence in the SA Police Service was at stake.
Adam said the NPA was happy with the progress made.
He was sure that a docket would be presented to the NPA soon so that a final decision on the state’s case could be made.
During court proceedings yesterday, defence lawyer Koos de Beer asked magistrate Phillip Visser to ban all cameras, video cameras and cellphones from the courtroom.
De Beer said the case of the police officers could be severely hampered if their faces appeared in the media all over the world.
He asked the court to instruct and warn the media and people in the gallery not to take any photographs.
Visser adjourned the court for 10 minutes and instructed the court orderly to make sure that there were no video cameras and cameras in the courtroom when he returned.
The police officers were then brought in. They stood with their heads bowed while the magistrate postponed the case.