Screenshot of a video showing SAPS officers pushing open the gate of a property in Parklands during an operation that preceded the death of a Nigerian national. The death of a Nigerian national during a police drug raid in Bellville on Thursday has intensified concerns among members of the Nigerian community, just weeks after another Nigerian man died during a South African police operation. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has confirmed it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death after Western Cape police referred the matter to the watchdog following the incident on Thursday.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed that investigators had opened a probe. “The matter has been reported to IPID, and our investigation has commenced. It is alleged that the police went to search a house in Parklands after receiving a tip-off on someone who had drugs.
They allegedly found him with drugs. “It is further alleged that the suspect collapsed and died while the police were on his property. Some of the residents allegedly became unruly, and police had to use rubber bullets to manage the situation.
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The post-mortem will be conducted to determine the deceased’s cause of death.” Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the case had been referred to IPID. Screenshot showing residents question SAPS officers outside the Parklands property following the death of a Nigerian national during a police operation. Screenshot from video showng SAPS officers inside the Parklands property after a Nigerian national died during a police operation on Thursday morning.
However, residents who witnessed the incident strongly dispute the official account. Videos livestreamed from the scene show dozens of residents surrounding police vehicles and accusing officers of assaulting the deceased after arriving at the property.
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