ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, POLICE AND PRISONS - POLICE (FROM A SURVEY OF RACE RELATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1977, BY LORAINE GORDON ET AL)

• NCJ Number: 48609
• Author(s): L GORDON; S BLIGNAUT; S MORONEY; C COOPER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: P O Box 97
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Annual/Periodic)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa

Annotation

POLICE CONDUCT TOWARD SUSPECTS AND PRISONERS IN CUSTODY, AND DURING TIMES OF UNREST, IS DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT. STATISTICS ON PERSONNEL AND POLICE CASUALTIES ARE INCLUDED.

Abstract

PERSONNEL FIGURES FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE FORCE ARE GROUPED ACCORDING TO POSITION AND RANK WITHIN THE FORCE AND RACIAL MAKEUP OF THE EMPLOYEE. STATISTICS INDICATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF PERSONS ON THE FORCE ARE BLACK AND THAT THE BLACK MEMBERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN THE LOWER-RANKING JOBS. HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT BLACK OFFICERS ARE REACHING HIGHER RANKS. TWO LEGISLATIVE ACTS PASSED IN 1977 AFFECTING POLICE OFFICERS ARE REPORTED ON: THE POLICE AMENDMENT ACT AND THE INDEMNITY ACT. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE MINISTER OF POLICE REGARDING POLICE CONDUCT SHOWS THAT 39 CASES OF POLICE ASSAULT AND 51 COMPLAINTS OF FALSE ARREST WERE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT DURING 1976. TOTAL NUMBERS OF PERSONS SHOT BY POLICE ON DUTY, EXCLUDING THOSE SHOT DURING CIVIL UNREST, ARE PRESENTED. THERE WAS A LARGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS SHOT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE. ACCORDING TO REPORTS OF THE INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS, 467 PERSONS DIED IN SOWETO DURING THE 1976 UNREST; POLICE FIGURES INDICATE THAT 184 OF THESE PERSONS WERE KILLED BY POLICE GUNFIRE. POLICE LISTS ALSO SHOW THAT 164 PERSONS WERE KILLED DURING THE CIVIL UNREST IN CAPE PENINSULA. POLICE CONDUCT TOWARD PRISONERS IN POLICE CUSTODY IS REVIEWED. THE MINISTER OF POLICE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT 117 DETAINEES DIED WHILE IN CUSTODY DURING THE YEAR. CAUSES FOR THESE DEATHS ARE SUMMARIZED, AND INCIDENTS OF PROVEN POLICE ABUSE ARE DISCUSSED. ALLEGATIONS BY THE PRESS OF INDISCRIMINATE SHOOTING AND ARRESTS BY THE POLICE IN SOWETO AND CLAIMS BY RESIDENTS THAT POLICE IN CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS TERRORIZED RESIDENTS ARE REPORTED. POLICE CONDUCT DURING THE DECEMBER UNREST IN CAPE PENINSULA IS EXAMINED. AFTER BANNING TWO REPORTS ON THE MATTER, THE CILLIE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY RETURNED TO CAPE TOWN TO HEAR EVIDENCE IN DECEMBER 1977. RESIDENTS, POLICEMEN, AND MIGRANT WORKERS TESTIFIED, AND VARIOUS CHARGES WERE MADE THAT POLICE HAD ENCOURAGED MIGRANT WORKERS TO ATTACK THE RESIDENTS OF NYANGA. THE POLICE HAVE DENIED THE CHARGES. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF UNREST IN THE TOWNSHIPS OCCURRED IN 1977, BUT THE USE OF TEAR GAS AND OTHER NEW EQUIPMENT FOR DISPERSING CROWDS KEPT DOWN THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES COMPARED TO THE 1976 FIGURES. NOTES AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)