Two former police constables sentenced to 20 years in prison for torturing suspect to death

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Middledrift Regional Court has handed down a 20 years prison term for two former police officials for killing a 20 years old man.

The 20 years old Bathandwa Kula lost his life during a torture and interrogation by 37 years old Ntsikayesizwe Dlephu and 40 years old Masixole Bushula who are both constables in August 2013 at Alice Police Station.

The constables were investigating a house breaking complaint where Simphiwe Sityi was the first to be detained, questioned and tortured by suffocation with plastic bags and he then implicated Kula.

Eastern Cape NPA Regional Spokesperson Anelisa Ngcakani says that Dlephu and Bushula then went to fetch Kula at his home where he was also tortured in the same manner but later on rushed to hospital after passing out.

“On the same day, Michael Smith, an investigator for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) attended to the body and the crime scene. He questioned Sityi, who showed him the office where he and Kula were tortured.”

“Sityi pointed Smith to important areas of the crimes scene including where he and Kula peed on themselves during the torture” said Ngcakani.

Dlephu and Bushula were immediately arrested but denied the claims during their court appearance and alleged that Kula had epileptic fits.

They were both sentenced to 20 years in prison and further three years for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.