Methodists Slam Macia Atrocity
The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, like the rest of
the country and world, has been deeply shocked and outraged by the brutal death
of Emidio Macia a Mozambican national allegedly at the hands of the police.
This is savagery on a par with the violence that occurred at Marikana and is
reminiscent of some of the terrible abuses of the apartheid era and is hereby
condemned in the strongest possible sense.
Police brutality in this country is an ongoing problem and
it is unconscionable that thus far nothing has been done to address the
systemic nature of this violence in our country. The 4 923 complaint’s
received by Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) between
2011/2012 are an example of the deep rootedness of the problem and serve to undermine
our confidence in South Africa’s police
service.
Whilst we support
the call for the establishment of a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into police
brutality by the President, which will hopefully ascertain what the root causes
of this problem are and what can be done to stamp out this culture of violence which
is now becoming synonymous with our police, urgent, visible action must be
taken by the President to demonstrate condemnation of this kind of behaviour.
Of equal concern was the behaviour of the bystanders,
which was as nauseating as the brutal police action shown on the video. We call
upon civil society to stand up and begin to do something that will help us recover
our humanity. Such atrocious behaviour must continue to be exposed using our
cell phones and other means available to us.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved family.
Released by the Methodist
Church of Southern Africa
Office of the Presiding
Bishop, Rev Zipho Siwa
For more information
contact: Ms B Moyo-Bango
Cell: 078 131 5137
