TORTURE is rife in South Africa’s police service and in its military prisons, according to claims by human rights watchdog Amnesty International. Torture included electric shocks, suffocation, forced painful postures, suspension from moving vehicles and helicopters and severe and prolonged beatings, the organisation told The Star newspaper. Police chief Jackie Selebi denied the claims. Amnesty International’s Africa programme researcher Mary Rayner said: “There are at least 20 to 30 cases of severe torture a year that are reported, but there are many more incidents that are not reported.” – AFP