IPID: 3 dead at the hands of police since lockdown
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) says it's received at least a dozen complaints against members of the South African Police Service since the country went on lockdown a week ago.
IPID spokesperson Sontaga Seisa says they have received a "total number of 12 cases that care COVID-19 related - six of them are assault-related, three discharge of a firearm and three deaths."
Some law enforcement officials as well as members of the SANDF deployed to help with the lockdown - have been accused of brutality.
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Some have been photographed and filmed making members of the public roll on the ground and forcing them to do hard physical exercises - apparently for violating the lockdown regulations.
The South African National Defence Union says soldiers who've been abusing members of the public during this lockdown must be identified and prosecuted.
SANDU's Pikkie Greef says even though some South Africans have ignored the rules put in place - but it doesn't justify the abuse of power by some soldiers.
The Defence Department has condemned the behaviour of the members.
