S.African White Police Held for Brutal Attack
Tuesday, November 07, 2000
By Brendan Boyle
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African state television aired video Tuesday showing police dogs repeatedly savaging black prisoners during what was described as a training exercise for the canine unit.
In one five-minute sequence, four dogs were given turns savaging one man and then two dogs were set on him as he alternately begged for mercy and covered his head.
The victim, a black man apparently about 20 years old, was beaten about the head as he tried to fend the dogs off.
He was told by one officer: "Leave the fucking dog alone."
A police spokeswoman said six white officers were arrested after senior officials were given an advance viewing of the Special Assignment program early Tuesday.
At the end of the home video, in which laughing officers repeatedly addressed the camera, the black victims, all badly bitten about the legs, arms and face, were lined up and in turn knocked down by one of policeman using his fists and elbows.
"Although the incident took place in 1998, I find it difficult to believe that such a naked display of racism and brutality could occur four years into our democracy," Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete said, referring to the end of white-minority rule in 1994.
"I am horrified and outraged after viewing scenes of blatant brutality and racism committed by a small group of members of the South African Police Service," he said in a statement.
The state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) did not say who provided the video material, but a presenter said the broadcaster had been told it had been shown repeatedly as entertainment at police barbecues.
The presenter said there were unconfirmed reports that one of the victims might have died after the attack, which went on for about an hour.
The film was made in January 1998 in an open field at the end of a dirt track behind a gold-mine dump.
TOO DISTRESSING TO WATCH
The SABC filmed Tshwete and police officials watching the video before it was broadcast Tuesday. At one point, Tshwete looked visibly distressed and turned his head away from the screen for several minutes.
Police Director Sally de Beer told Reuters that investigations were continuing and it was possible that more officers could be arrested in connection with the incident.
"At this stage we cannot rule out the possibility that more people will be arrested or that similar incidents have happened at other times," she said.
Jackie Selebi, National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, said six members of the North-East Rand Dog Unit were arrested and would be suspended from duty.
"It is difficult to put into words the shock, revulsion and disappointment that I felt after having viewed the video footage," he said in a statement.
In July this year, a court fined two white policemen who were filmed by a BBC camerawoman last year beating car hijacking suspects, all blacks, and allowing a dog to bite one of them.
One man died after the beating.