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17 December 2001 SAPS MountainriseThe Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Sathasivan Govender on 08 December 2001. The incident occurred in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal on Saturday, 08 December 2001 where a police officer killed Mr Govender, who was visiting his sister, Mrs Lorraine Naidoo, to whom the police officer is married. Mr Govender had visited his sister since he was concerned for her safety after being informed that her police officer husband had been abusing her physically. An argument ensued between Mr Govender and his brother in law (the suspect police officer), which resulted in the police officer assaulting Mr Govender with a broomstick. A shootout ensued between them. Mr Govender was fatally wounded. His sister was wounded as well. Mr Govender was killed with the service firearm of the suspect police officer. The ICD took over the case docket immediately and after finalisation will be forwarding same to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision on prosecution. The Executive Director of the Independent Complaints Directorate, Adv Karen McKenzie said: "This killing was the culmination of a history of domestic violence. Fearing for his daughter’s life, Mr Govender (the father of Mrs Naidoo) reported same to the police officer’s supervisors, but to no avail. There appears to be an increase of cases in which domestic violence is perpetrated by police officers". SAPS Ritavi In a separate incident, the ICD is investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Patience Mabunda on 14 December 2001. The incident occurred in Nkoankoa in the Northern Province on Friday, 14 December 2001. It is alleged that a police Inspector was visited by his second girlfriend, whilst the first girlfriend was also with him. It is alleged that the police officer locked both girlfriends in his bedroom in the house. An argument ensued between the three and the suspect police officer threatened to kill them. He then ordered the deceased to take off her clothes before raping her while the other girlfriend was watching. After raping her, he also wanted to do the same to the other girlfriend, who refused to take off her clothes. She managed to escape and ran away. Two gunshots were heard from the bedroom. The suspect police officer reported the matter to the police station and alleged that the deceased committed suicide. The deceased was killed with the service firearm of the suspect police officer. The ICD arrested the suspect police officer on 14 December 2001 who was detained at the Duiwelskloof police station and will be appearing in the Nkoankoa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 18 December 2001. The post-mortem will be conducted on 18 December 2001. The ICD took over the case docket immediately and after finalisation will be forwarding same to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision on prosecution. The Executive Director of the Independent Complaints Directorate, Adv Karen McKenzie said: "Femicide committed by police officers is on the increase and this is definitely a worrying trend. The ICD has repeatedly called for police management to intervene and ensure that service firearms are not taken home by police officers, since in all the cases we have thus far investigated, spouses, partners, family members and children have been killed by the service firearms of police officers. In my opinion, SAPS management should not be allowed to neglect this responsibility". Issued by Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) Steve Mabona |
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