One of the policeman accused of murdering a Daveyton taxi driver was assaulted by the driver before his arrest, the Benoni Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday (08/03/2013).
Elias Tshole, for Thamsanqa Ncema, 35, read out his client’s affidavit in court.
In it, Ncema alleged that Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia, 27, was blocking the road with his taxi on February 26.
"I asked him to move and he insulted me and told me I am a useless cop,” Ncema said.
He claimed Macia grabbed a fellow policeman’s gun and pointed it at them.
He later handed it back, and Warrant Officer Meshack Malele, 45, went to call for backup.
Macia’s driver’s licence was taken. He then "tussled” with Ncema after asking for its return.
Ncema said Macia was arrested when back-up arrived and was taken to the police station.
"I was caught by surprise to be told that the person had died, as he has never complained about any injuries,” Ncema said.
Ncema and Malele brought a bail application with their co-accused Motome Walter Ramatlou, Percy Mnisi, 26, Bongumusa Mdluli, 25, Sipho Ngobeni, 30, Lungisa Ewababa, 31, Bongani Kolisi, 27, and Linda Sololo, 56.
Mnisi said in an affidavit that he assisted Ncema after he received a call for back-up.
Macia was allegedly tied to the back of a police van and dragged along a street in Daveyton on February 26. An eyewitness filmed the assault.
Macia was found dead in the local police station’s holding cells several hours later. A post-mortem revealed that he had died of head and internal injuries. - Sapa
