‘SIEK OU DIED AFTER COP ATTACK’

A CANCER-STRICKEN Elsies River man tragically passed away a day after he and his chommies were allegedly attacked by cops last week.

Cheslin Christians, 39, died in hospital on 5 November and the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition (C4) believes the assault may have played a role in his death.

According to a family friend, who asked not to be named, her son and Christians were chilling outside her house when Anti-Gang Unit officers arrived, responding to gunshots in the area.

The homeowner said: “There was a shooting incident nearby, but they arrested the wrong people. “The police scolded them then put them in the van. They apparently took them to a field and beat them there because they thought that they fired the shots.

“My son was shot a month ago so he pleaded with the police ‘don’t hit me, don’t hit me, I was shot a month ago’.

“While he was explaining they kicked him in his tummy.

“Cheslin also told them that he felt sick but they didn’t worry they beat him up.”

C4 member Imraahn Mukaddam added that according to witnesses Christians had been feelling the effects of his cancer treatment. 

He told the Daily Voice: “He had complained of nausea earlier on the day he died, he was recovering from his treatment at the time of the incident. 

“The traumatic experience resulted in him getting ill according to the witness, because they warned the officers not to hurt Cheslin because of his medical condition but they still went ahead and severely beat him. Only the autopsy can reveal the real cause of death.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that an inquest has been opened for investigation and said the cause of Christians’ death must still to be determined.

Van Wyk reported: “Still awaiting the autopsy report to determine the cause of death as it is still undetermined if the cause of death is related to the alleged assault. The victim died one day after the alleged incident.”

C4 has called on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and SAPS leaders to reveal the identity of the cops involved and launch an inquiry into the incident.

Mukaddam said: “This incident is not isolated. It reflects a terrifying pattern of brutality by specialist police units who appear to operate with a sense of impunity, above the law.

“The people of the Cape Flats deserve safety from both crime and from those sworn to protect them.”