SAPS, SABC under fire after Ficksburg killing

The ANC wants Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to probe the alleged beating of a man to death by police during a protest in Ficksburg in the Free State.

Spokesman Jackson Mthembu also expressed concern about the airing of the beating on SABC television news.

"In what the ANC can only describe as resembling apartheid era police strong arm tactics, showing total disregard for human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution, members of the SAPS... violently killed an unarmed protester after severely beating him in full glare of members of the Ficksburg community in the Free State," said Mthembu in a statement issued late on Wednesday evening.

"The ANC strongly condemns the brutal beating of the man to death - a chilling and sad scene which was later shown to millions on national television news by the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)."

Mthembu called on Mthethwa to institute an "immediate commission of inquiry" into the death of the man. The man was identified as 33-year-old Andries Tatane in reports on Thursday.

Mthembu said the ANC was also concerned that the SABC aired the "shocking and disturbing images" on prime time television news, disregarding young and sensitive viewers.

"We therefore, also call upon the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to investigate whether the public broadcaster has not overstepped its mandate in this regard."

He said South Africa was a "far cry from a police state", it was a constitutional democracy, with its citizens afforded the right to stage peaceful demonstrations.

"It was totally unbelievable, shocking and disgusting to see images on our television screens of such extreme police brutality and murderous activity.

"No amount of wrong doing by the protesters necessitated such brutality and killing on the part of our law enforcement officers."

The Independent Complaints Commission was reportedly investigating the incident. Police allegedly fired rubber bullets into Tatane's chest and then beat him with batons.

The Times reported that Tatane was allegedly attacked by at least six policemen "simultaneously". He was seen holding his hand against his chest after the assault and collapsed about 20 minutes later. He died before the ambulance arrived, according to the report.

The police confirmed on Wednesday that a man has been killed during the protest. Spokesman Captain Phumelelo Dlamini said police were investigating the incident.