The police are accused of beating a Rasta to death in front of his family. In yet another display of hatred for Dagga and anyone who uses the herb, this intimidation for possession and ‘dealing’ arrest in Wellington in the Western Cape ended with a 48 year old Rastafari elder’s children mourning the death of their father. After this community’s lifetime of intimidation at the hands of the local cops, the situation on the Friday before Christmas got very out of hand. This time the suspected dagga ‘dealer’ was assaulted in his home in front of witnesses and never survived the beating. After trashing the house (again) the police arrested the suspect and was taken away with a nephew. He was never seen alive by his family again.
This comes only weeks after the SAPS National Commissioner, Major Khehla Sitole issued a National Directive to his out of control gang members to cool it and follow correct arrest procedures. As we mentioned in a blog post at the time, the Directive was bound to take time to filter down to the street thugs in blue.
The usual Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) response materialised online shortly after the incident, with a bland acknowledgement of the death and a ‘no arrests have been made’ statement issued. Obviously we shouldn’t wait up for a result; IPID is in complete turmoil nationally, and bombarded with police misconduct cases daily.
This brutal incident has enraged the Rasta community who now want answers as to how this could have happened. The Daily Voice news outlet was the only media platform (that we could find), to report the incident and we think this article went a long way to mobilise the Rastafari into seeking justice and an explanation.
After what must have been a very grim Christmas for all concerned, the Western Cape Rastafari marched to the Wellington Police Station demanding answers. The march was organized by the Voice of the Western Province (VOWP), The Adwa Movement, Drakenstein Concerned Citizens and the Rastafari United Front (RUF).
The Station Commander received the marcher’s demands without incident, the various speakers at the event were well publicised and here at Fields Of Green For ALL, we will do everything we can to keep these headlines in the news and pressure the police for answers. Starting with this blog post.
Images and video provided by the Rastafari United Front.
I have learned to always pull my phone out at the first sign of violence which is verbal violence. I shout out that I am recording and that everyone is aware that they are being recorded… That’s how the “Mozambiquian taxi driver” achieved justice for his death in SAPS custody. That’s how his family in a songs in Mozambique could have their voice heard and have SA tax payers underwrite the premium… You have to fight and make more noise? Remember that you are fighting for the life of a son/father. You are fighting so that your lives will not be as easily snatched from you by the very same armed, uniformed SAPS that gets beaten up in broad daylight by foreign nationals – and no arrests are made…. FIGHT! make noise so you catch and involve as many eyes and ears needed to keep mighty from the weak
We have corrupt policemen;
Some smoke weed and need to raid your house to get some,
Some to raid your house coz they heard things, no search warrant – just corrupt.
Some that are afraid, these ones should not be policemen, so they start beating people up for nothing.
People let’s pray we don’t deal with this corrupt cops…..these ones need their badges taken away from them IMMEDIATELY.
We should also list names of corrupt cops on this website.
Rasta were some of the first group of people to help fight against apartheid by the medium of music and creating intense international pressures on the SA evil government. Now this is the payback…shame on babylon!!!
Whagwan bomboclat police. We gon burn dem.
Corrupt system hating the herb lying to people
weak Heart Babelon fyah burn your wicked and evil deeds against equality, i guest its another brain wash slave mentality Africans who a not intresting in lifes truth. you better know Rastafari teachings would never be concer. Blessed love & light to the I family stand firm
absolutely horrible
Powers from RasMoses in USA.. fight on idren til Africa is free
Thank you RasMoses. I will pass on the message. Onward in unity for Fields of Green for ALL!
Time to March again!
Absolutely disgusting! The real criminals are the police. They are a law unto themselves. They act with impunity and outside the law. No consequences for their criminality. We should be afraid – very afraid.
Babylon system a vampire sucking people Dem blod
Sometimes Rastaz are so aggressive especial when they are in a group. 2012 I was almost beaten up by the Rastaz while I was conducting my daily duties.
Family needs to demand compensation for this horrific act of violence and pure negligence on the polices’ part.!
Our corrupt government’s fault!