Man dies in police custody

The death of a Boksburg man in police custody is being investigated by the Independent Complaints Directorate

ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini said a death in police custody and death by police action were being investigated by the directorate.

The ICD took over the  investigation from police on Sunday.

“There are two sides to every story, our job is justice. We must  hear the side of the police too before we can make recommendations to the prosecutor,” he said.

“I can confirm there was a shooting in the early hours of Sunday  morning and a man died,” he said.

Beeld reported that Rean Ramdin, 29, died after he was shot by a  policeman after being arrested during a raid at Presley’s nightclub  in Boksburg.

In an interview with his family it emerged that his cousins were  with him when he was arrested. They took the keys for the bakkie he had borrowed from his father.

According to the newspaper his cousins told the family that shots were fired on the corner of Rietfontein and Rondebultweg enroute to the police station.    

The report said he was handcuffed when he was shot.

Ramdin’s sister Melody Perumal told the Beeld that the family had been told by police that her brother wanted to escape and warning shots were fired.

This was when he was wounded and died.

Perumal said the family had searched for Ramdin after he failed to return home. They identified his body at the Springs mortuary.

“He always had his driver’s licence with him. The police knew who he was but they made no effort to inform his family of the circumstances surrounding his death,” she was quoted saying.

Last week 16-year-old Thato Mokoka was shot dead allegedly by a policeman.

A 41-year-old student police constable will appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court in connection with the murder on Monday.