Lawyers representing Macia family fired

The family of taxi driver Mido Macia will no longer be represented by an East Rand-based law firm, the firm said on Friday.

"The mandate given to Jurgens Bekker Attorneys to represent the Macia family has been terminated today by Mr Jossefa Macia, father to the late Emidio Macia," the firm said in a statement.

"Jurgens Bekker Attorneys wish Mr Jossefa Macia, his wife and the Macia family all the best for the future."

The firm had been preparing to institute a civil claim against Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on the family's behalf.

It claimed on Monday that the family was being harassed by representatives of the Mozambican government, who urged the family to settle the matter out of court and have the government represent them.

Attorney Andrew Boerner claimed the representatives were trying to seek a "political solution" and avoid the claim against Mthethwa.

The nine policemen accused of killing Macia were denied bail by the Benoni Magistrate's Court last Tuesday. Magistrate Sam Makamu said he felt it was not in the interests of justice to grant them bail. The matter would resume on April 12.

Macia was filmed being tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on February 26. He was found dead in the local police station's holding cells several hours later.