Court asked to intervene in alleged abuse by police, soldiers
The civil society organisation Fair and Equitable Society (FES) has approached the High Court in Pretoria over the alleged abuse by members of the police and army during the national lockdown.
The organisation want the ministers of defence and police to be held liable for any abuse.
Social media has been ablaze with videos depicting members of the public allegedly being abused by soldiers and police officers for contravening the lockdown regulations.
According to a report released by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on Friday, a total of eight people have allegedly died at the hands of police since the start of the nationwide lockdown.
FES director Samantha Sarjoo says the violence by law enforcement officers is an affront to the rights of ordinary South Africans.
“The behaviour of some individuals in the army and police towards people contravening the national lockdown rules is unacceptable and dehumanizing.
“It is both concerning and appalling to see that the violent actions and gross violation of human rights are meted out along racial lines and targeting marginalised and disadvantaged groups,especially considering South Africa’s recent past of racial segregation and apartheid.”
Sarjoo says those who disobey the regulations should be processed within the prescribed legal framework.
“We are fighting disease in a constitutional democracy, not a state under martial law. The outbreak of Covid-19 has not turned our people into mindless animals whose behaviour necessitates the infringement of their human rights, to the point of torture.”
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