Viewfinder's first documentary film revisits the murder of Letsekang Thokoane, a young shopkeeper, by police during the farm worker strike in De Doorns in 2013. Why were the killers not held accountable? From the scene of the murder in Elubisi township a paper trail leads us to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's head office in Pretoria to ask this question.
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Viewfinder exposes how underfunding, State Capture and statistical manipulation at IPID allowed violent criminals in the South African Police Service escape accountability.
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Is the Independent Police investigative Directorate (IPID) using autopsy findings of “natural causes” as a way to short circuit police brutality investigations? The decision to clear police of wrongdoing in the circumstances leading up to the death of Petrus Miggels in Ravensmead on the first day of lockdown raises questions about the police watchdog’s processes.
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Our analysis of police corruption data has revealed some of the ways in which police officers solicit bribes from the public. Now, the Covid-19 lockdown has created conditions for extortion and other forms of police corruption to flourish.
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South Africans have shared many videos and accounts of abuses by police officers deployed to enforce the national lock down. But, prior trends in police brutality shows us that the problem is a deeply rooted and pervasive one.
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IPID’s new head has suspended a number of officials, including national head of investigations Matthews Sesoko.
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Viewfinder exposé and pressure from Parliament, experts prompts IPID to commit to policy reforms aimed at improving its impact on police conduct and accountability.
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In a low resource environment, focusing on serious cases could help IPID maximise its impact on police conduct. But, will management and Parliament adopt the experts’ roadmap?
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Latest from our partner newsroom, GroundUp
Cele appears to misinterpret Criminal Procedure Act. It does not allow @SAPoliceService to use discretionary force when effecting an arrest. ONLY if such arrest cannot be effected w/o use of force.
Cele says that @SAPoliceService members are well versed in their responsibility not to use excessive force. David Bruce's brilliant article in @dailymaverick today and the catalogue of our reporting demonstrates why he is wrong. https://viewfinder.org.za
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