City of Cape Town cops are under investigation after they allegedly beat a Manenberg father of eight to death over the weekend.
Relatives of Kashief Jacobus, 44, say officers of the Metro Police’s Gang and Drugs Task Team (GDTT) smacked and kicked him until he was unconscious on Saturday night and took him away in an unmarked vehicle.
Brother-in-law Faried Carriem, 55, says shortly before 8pm, the cops approached a group of men gambling on the corner of Pecos and Renoster Road.
“He was sitting on the other side of the road with a woman by a fire when they came past,” says Faried.
“They went to the guys that were dowwelling and a big guy in a blue uniform called him and he went.
“The officer just smacked him across the face and he fell to the ground. The other one came and kicked him. They tried to wake him up but when they saw he was not talking, they panicked and took him away and we didn’t see him again.”
Kashief’s heartbroken mother Hazel, 60, says the family went to Manenberg Police Station to enquire but were told he was not arrested and not in the cells.
They also went to Heideveld Day Hospital where they were told an unknown man was brought in but transferred to Groote Schuur Hospital.
On Sunday, two detectives from Manenberg SAPS came to inform them that Kashief was dead.
The Metro cops had taken him to Heideveld hospital from where he was transferred to Groote Schuur, where he passed away.
“We still have not seen his body and don’t even know what the cause of death was,” says Faried.
“He has eight children who are now without a father and they just can’t do that.”
Widow Tashriqah, 38, was crying and holding her children and said she was too emotional to comment.
Captain FC van Wyk says police are investigating a murder case and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
The acting director for safety and security for the City of Cape Town, Wayne le Roux, confirms the incident and says officers reacted to a complaint of people gambling, drinking and smoking dagga in public.
“It was during the pursuit of the suspects that a member of the public apparently tried to obstruct officers, but fell and hit his head,” says Le Roux.
“The officers attempted to assist the injured person on the scene but decided to take the man to hospital as a crowd had gathered and the situation was becoming hostile.
“The City is deeply perturbed by claims that the gentleman was deliberately harmed by officers. We are investigating this matter internally and we are also cooperating fully with the South African Police Service to get to the bottom of the incident.”