2008/10/08

POLICE in Transkei are being investigated for allegedly beating up schoolchildren opposed to the planned titanium mining on the Wild Coast.

The incident allegedly happened early last month, just before Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica put the proposed mining permit for an Australian company on hold, and prior to her admission that the consultation process was flawed.

The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), a body which investigates claims of wrongdoing against police officers, has confirmed their probe.

The South African Human Rights Commission and the provincial police commissioner’s office have also been dragged into the latest feud over the controversial mining issue at Xolobeni after they, too, were informed.

Behind the assault complaint is social worker John Clark, who acted on behalf of the parents of the alleged victims from Xolobeni Junior Secondary School.

Clark said several pupils, including girls and boys from Grades 7, 8 and 9 at the school, were allegedly slapped and even sjambokked by police last month on instruction from school principal Mdumiseni Mpange. This was allegedly after pupils became involved in an anti-mining campaign and refused to wear school uniforms or sing as a school choir when Sonjica went to the village last month.

Clark said some of the pupils claimed they were forced to “kneel down as if they were praying” while being sjambokked on their backs by police. “The beatings were so bad that some of the pupils were unable to sit properly as a result of this and the parents decided that this matter should be reported to authorities,” he said.

Mpange yesterday denied that the incident took place and promptly terminated the call.

But Ma-Ayina Mthwa, whose 18-year-old daughter Sikisiwe was among those allegedly assaulted, said she still wanted an explanation as to why her child was beaten. “She could not go to school for three days because she was swollen from the beating.” Her daughter told her that at the time the police shouted at them: “We want to remove this mentality you have.”

Provincial police spokesperson Director Miranda Mills promised to respond to the Daily Dispatch after she had verified whether a complaint against the officers had been laid. However, yesterday evening her cellphone was off.

ICD advocate Sakhele Poswa said they would visit Xolobeni either on Thursday or Friday to take statements from the pupils.

Education spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said the district office was waiting for a report from the school principal.

They had been unaware of the matter until the Dispatch started making enquiries, he admitted.

Minerals and Energy spokesperson Sputnik Ratau would not comment because the issue had nothing to do with the department.

The latest allegations of violence follow recent attacks in the area where factions in favour of, and opposed to, the mining have clashed.

Last month a 73-year-old woman was killed in the area in what police suspect may have been a mining-related murder.

A week before, a headman in favour of the mining was also killed.

And in July a village chief fled the area after allegedly being assaulted for his support of the mining. – By MALUNGELO BOOI

Mthatha Bureau

Posted on October 9th, 2008
Filed under: Newspaper and Media