Ipid admits failing to probe cops after Khoza’s death

THE INDEPENDENT Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has admitted that it was an “error of law” on its part to not investigate the alleged role played by the Johannesburg metro police in the death of Collins Khoza.

This submission, contained in a supplementary affidavit which was handed to the North Gauteng High Court yesterday, followed a question by Judge Hans Fabricius on whether Ipid was willing to give an undertaking to investigate the actions (or omissions) of the metro police.

Khoza was assaulted and subsequently died at his Alexandra home.

Acting executive director of Ipid, Patrick Setshedi, said in the affidavit that they were willing to investigate the incident regarding the possible involvement of the metro police, but initially did not do so as the metro police “did not take part in the assault”.

Setshedi said he is further advised that Ipid’s regulations provide that the directorate must investigate a matter only if the South African Police Service are said to be involved.

“I therefore give the undertaking that I will designate the investigators in line with the regulations, and that they will reconstruct the crime scene within 24 hours…”

He promised the court that a report regarding the findings of the investigations would be ready by close of business tomorrow, and that it would then be filed with the court.

Ipid earlier investigated the role of the SAPS in the incident, and exonerated the police.

According to Khoza’s family, this was done without interviewing key witnesses on the scene.

The family of Khoza, 40, who was allegedly severely beaten on Good Friday for drinking alcohol in the yard at his home, want the court to set regulations regarding how the police and the SANDF should act during this lockdown period.

The father of three was allegedly assaulted for “breaking the lockdown rules”.

According to the post-mortem report, which formed part of the papers submitted to the court, Khoza had died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Judgment was reserved, following two days of legal arguments.