The SAPS has confirmed receipt of a memorandum from protestors demanding that the investigation into the death of a woman at the Muizenberg police station be attended to with more urgency.
A crowd of people gathered outside the police station for a peaceful protest on Thursday, several days after a woman in her 40s, identified as Cebisa Silwana, collapsed and died there on Saturday night. According to police, the woman was taken to the police station following an altercation at her home in Capricorn.
Wayne Turner of the Muizenberg Community Policing Forum, in a statement, urged the public to avoid making assumptions regarding the victim’s cause of death, as it is an active investigation.
“Two SAPS members responded to the complaint and, upon their arrival, encountered family members who became increasingly vocal, verbally abusive and aggressive. In an effort to de-escalate the situation and resolve the matter, the members transported the involved family members to the Muizenberg SAPS station. The situation was subsequently resolved at the police station, and the family members were permitted to return home. Tragically, shortly thereafter, one of the individuals involved in the incident collapsed at the station,” explained Turner.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, advised that an inquest was registered for investigation.
“She was not in police custody at the time of her death. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,” said Twigg.
The police watchdog, IPID, would not be investigating the matter at this stage, as it “falls outside its legislative mandate”, Turner said.
But concerned neighbours and those close to Silwana are seeking accountability from officers who were at the police station at the time of her death.
There is reportedly a request in the memorandum for the Provincial SAPS to take over the investigation.
The Provincial SAPS office noted that the memorandum has been handed over to the District Commander and added that allegations that police officers may have been involved are receiving attention.
“An investigation is currently ongoing and very sensitive. Details regarding the investigation cannot be disclosed. The District Commissioner of Wynberg Cluster appointed a team to investigate the allegations internally against the member involved,” said SAPS spokesperson, Captain F.C. Van Wyk.
