Ramaphosa: Eldorado Park community ‘deserves better’
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for calm in protest-hit Eldorado Park following the death of 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies.
Community members in the area, south of Johannesburg, took to the streets on Thursday following the death of the teen, who had Down syndrome.
Julies was shot and killed, allegedly by a police officer, on Wednesday night.
In a statement on Friday, Ramaphosa said the violent death of any young person is concerning.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and neighbours of Nathaniel who has, as a 16-year-old, been deprived of a future and whose tragic death has given rise to anger and unrest in a community that deserves better.”
He urged the community to assist the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) to establish the facts.
“Justice can only prevail if community workers work with our criminal justice system to address alleged injustice or abuse.”
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and neighbours of #NathanielJulius who has, as a 16-year-old, been deprived of a future and whose tragic death has given rise to anger and unrest in a community that deserves better.
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 #StaySafe (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 28, 2020
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IPID returns to Eldorado Park to probe the murder of Nathaniel Julius
The teenager with special needs was shot on Wednesday night and died at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. The community allege Julius was shot by police members. It caused anger, with residents taking to the streets on Thursday in their demand for action against police.
