/ 15 April 2013

Tatane family suing police for compensation

Protestors hold up a banner outside the magistrates court in Ficksburg
Protestors hold up a banner outside the magistrates court in Ficksburg

Lawyers for Tatane's family filed a compensation lawsuit for loss of support and emotional damage, according to an SABC news report on Monday.

Tatane died on April 13 2011, after police used rubber bullets and batons to subdue him during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg.

The trial received huge media attention when footage of Tatane's assault was broadcast nationally.

On March 28, the Ficksburg Regional Court acquitted seven policemen accused of Tatane's death.

Regional magistrate Hein van Niekerk found the state could not prove its case of murder and assault beyond reasonable doubt.

Two of the state's police witnesses had claimed they were threatened into making statements to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.

Neither could identify any of the accused in a video of the protest because the officers were wearing helmets, according to the report.

State witness, officer Kabelo Pule, was discredited last year when he alleged the police had used excessive force when restraining Tatane. – Sapa