Times Of Swaziland: Sihle bhembe's death is unconstitutional

Sihle bhembe's death is unconstitutional
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The editor on 17/06/2012 00:00:00


Sir,
Sihle Bhembe, (26) from Manzana in Mbabane is no more.
He lost his life while detained at the old Mbabane Police Station. This shocking
incident occurs while the Swazi nation is still trying to find answers about the
death of Vamile Gumbi, an accountant who succumbed to death days after an
intense police interrogation.
The Times of Swaziland (June 11, 2012) reported that Bhembe was arrested after
his family members called the police on his alleged aggressive behaviour.
Instead of taking him for psychiatric evaluation, the police locked him up in a
cell for three whole days and he later died.
After he was reported dead on Sunday, the police told the family that the man
had banged his head against the wall on Friday night until he died and they only
discovered his lifeless body on Saturday.
When the family enquired why he had not been taken to the psychiatric centre,
the police Public Relations Office said they did not have his mental background,
which was required by the doctor. As SSN, we are concerned why the police kept
the young man in a cell for three long days when he was not a criminal.
They had been called in by the family because they had a disorderly family
member, possibly suffering from a mental breakdown.
All the police had to do was to take him to the psychiatric centre, or if they
did not want to, just order the family to do so.
It is very clear that Bhembe was either neglected or forgotten in the police
cell while the police slept throughout the night, for if they had not slept,
then they would have heard him banging himself against the wall.
There is also the very real possibility that something else happened.
The family has since requested an independent autopsy.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) condemns the police behaviour which is
clearly unconstitutional and a lack of good governance.
Had there been systems in place in the Swazi Police none of these current deaths
would have happened.
We call on all Swazi people to rise to the ever heightening police brutality and
lack of proper police internal structures that should safeguard the interests of
the citizenry, and not treat people as mere subjects.
Lucky Lukhele
Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]
Johannesburg
Lucky,
The position of the police so far is that Sihle died from self-inflicted
injuries. Of course, there is widespread speculation and fears, especially after
the pictures and story published by the Times daily on Thursday, June 14, 2012.
So far, we have no alternative but to go with the version of the police,
especially because Sihle can no longer speak for himself. Our condolences go to
his family and it is our hope that the police are also putting their own house
in order, to stop such incidents from constantly cropping up as they go about
their law-enforcement duties. It tarnishes the image of the police service,
which Commissioner Isaac Magagula is so passionate about protecting.
Editor