17 July 2008
A member of the SACP Politburo and National Chairperson of the YCL, Cde David Masondo, was yesterday assaulted by members of the SAPS and unfairly arrested.
We are appalled by the manner in which he was treated by the police which includes denying him expeditious medical attention even when he was bruised in his face and bleeding.
This is the kind of treatment of citizens by our officers who have no respect of the rights of people that they are dealing with. It is precisely this lack of respect of human rights in our policing system that we need to transform. Gone are the days when the majority of our people where merely treated as punching bags of the racist South African Police.
It cannot be that our young people cannot walk the streets freely with the fear of being mistaken for criminals and victimized for their darker skin.
The SACP will be laying a complaint with both the ICD and the HRC on this matter.
We would like to thank the speedy response we have received from the officer of the provincial commissioner in Gauteng in dealing with this matter.
We call upon our ally, POPCRU, to deepen transformation of the police service and progressive ideas for social justice. We are particularly offended by the xenophobic tendency meted out against Cde Masondo by the said officers. This is flagrant attack on our constitution, his constitutional rights and of those many others who continue to be subjected to this kind of ill treatment by untransformed police personnel on a daily basis.
Our people should be mobilized against this growing tendency in the Police service against foreign nationals. Equally, we condemn the abuse of the law by the officers who immediately arrested Cde Masondo on trumped up charges so as to cover their barbaric actions. These are the kind of elements that we do not need in our police service. They deserve an immediate suspension whilst the investigations into their unlawful conduct are underway.
We will continue to work and support able men and women in the police service who are committed to the fight against corruption, crime and injustice.
Issued by the SACP.
Contact:
Malesela Maleka
SACP Spokesperson – 082 226 1802