Cape Crime Crisis Coalition calls for action after Elsies River resident dies in alleged police brutality incident

The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition has called for action after an incident of alleged police brutality led to the death of an Elsies River resident.

The coalition has lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to probe the incident.

Coalition member Imraahn Mukkadam said that the SAPS' anti-gang unit interrogated eight suspects after responding to a shooting in Elsies River on Tuesday last week.

Mukkadam said that 39-year-old Cheslin Christians died the next day after allegedly being beaten by the AGU officers during the interrogation.      

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms any policing that violates the constitutional rights of citizens. The right to life, dignity and freedom from torture are foundational to our democracy." 

The coalition is calling on IPID and the SAHRC to take further action.

"We implore them to act with the utmost speed and rigour to uncover the full truth, identify all officers involved and ensure they held accountable to the full extent of the law."  

The SAHRC said it would respond to the matter in due course.