Mido Macia: Cops’ families distraught

The families of the 8 police officers sent to prison for killing Mido Macia are distraught over their lengthy sentences.

Pretoria - The families of the eight police officers sent to prison for killing Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia were distraught and faced more difficult times ahead, a relative said on Wednesday.

“It is a sad moment for the families... and it is going to get harder. We are given hope by the upcoming appeal,” said one of the relatives, Clement Mashego. He lambasted the South African Police Service (SAPS) and said the officers were treated unfairly. “Management and even the union [Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union] did not render support to these policemen, I think police out there should just refrain from making arrests, because doing their jobs pits them against the law. The SAPS just excused itself after the incident happened.”

Pretoria High Court Judge Bert Bam on Wednesday sentenced Bongamusa Mdluli, Meshack Malele, Thamsanqa Ngema, Percy Mnisi, Sipho Ngobeni, Lungisa Gwababa, Bongani Kolisi and Linda Sololo to 15 years each for the murder of Macia. They were convicted of the crime in August.

Macia was dragged behind a police van in February 2013. He was later found dead in the Daveyton police station's holding cells. The eight policemen were all dismissed from the South African Police Service following a disciplinary hearing.

A ninth former police officer, initially charged with the group, was acquitted by the court. Matome Ramatlou walked out of the court a free man after Bam told him that there was no evidence linking him to the murder.

The legal representative for the eight officers indicated after the sentencing on Wednesday that they were set to launch an appeal. Benny Ndaba said the appeal would be against the conviction handed down by Judge Bam in August.

“We are not appealing the 15-year sentence handed by the court on Wednesday, we are going to appeal against the conviction. We are of the opinion that the judge's analysis of the evidence brought before court was incorrect, and we believe that another court might come to a different opinion,” said Ndaba. “Bam was incorrect in his conviction.”

ANA