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Subscribe to RSSThe alleged dragging death of a 27-year-old taxi driver by police sparks outrage in South Africa where activists say police brutality is on the rise. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports. Editor's Note: This video contains graphic images which some viewers may find disturbing.
JOHANNESBURG — His hands are tied to the rear of a police van while his body lies behind it, on the ground. The van speeds off, dragging the slender man along the pavement as a onlookers shout in dismay and at least one records the scene. He is later found dead in a police cell.
It's a gut-wrenching video, made all the more disturbing by the fact that the men who carried out the abuse were uniformed South African police officers and the van was a marked police vehicle. The Daily Sun, a South African newspaper, posted the footage Thursday, and it was quickly picked up by other South African news outlets and carried on the Internet. It sparked immediate outrage.
Some of those in the crowd who watched the scene unfold in a township east of Johannesburg shouted at the police and warned that it was being videotaped. The police did not seem at all concerned as they tied Mido Macia, a 27-year-old taxi driver from neighboring Mozambique, to the back of a police vehicle, his hands behind his head, his buttocks on the ground. At least three policemen participated in the incident. Macia was found dead in a police cell late Tuesday in the Daveyton township east of Johannesburg.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the police watchdog agency, said Thursday that a murder probe is under way and that Macia suffered head and other injuries, including internal bleeding.
'What has this guy done?'
The graphic footage renewed concerns about brutality, corruption and other misconduct by a national police force whose reputation has suffered in recent years amid reports that many officers lack training. Some have been charged with committing the crimes they are supposed to prevent, including rape and murder.
"We are going to film this," several onlookers shouted in Zulu as the police tormented Macia. One bystander can be heard on the videotape shouting in Zulu: "What has this guy done?"
Daily Sun via AFP - Getty Images
South African police officers hold the legs of a taxi driver handcuffed to the back of a police van. Moments later, they dropped his legs and the van accelerated away. He was later found dead.
At first, Macia, dressed in jeans and a red T-shirt, is dragged along the road by the vehicle at slow speed, the footage shows. He awkwardly tries to keep step even though he is almost horizontal above the ground. Then the van stops, two policemen pick up the legs of the taxi driver and drop them to the ground as the van picks up speed and drives off, beyond the view of the camera.
The police watchdog agency said the incident started just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday when the cab driver was allegedly obstructing traffic with his vehicle. Then, Macia allegedly assaulted a constable and took his weapon before he was overpowered, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said in a statement.
Macia was found dead over two hours later by another policeman, according to the watchdog agency.
In a statement, the police force said National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega "strongly condemned" what happened. The statement said people are "urged to remain vigilant and continue to report all acts of crime irrespective of who is involved."
Phiyega has sought to upgrade the reputation of the South African police. Last month, Phiyega told a group of police officials the standing of the force "has been severely but not irreparably tarnished over the past several years."
Related:
Full South Africa coverage from NBC News
Leave a Comment:
Damn, doesn't look like getting rid of apartheid has fixed all the problems in S.F. no? What the hell?
Of course it hasn't fixed all problems. Apartheid can't fix ALL problems. No more than segregation could in the U.S. These clowns (police) are nothing more than a bunch of douches abusing their power to uphold laws by instead putting themselves above the law.
As far as I can tell from the pictures, some of the policemen were black. Blacks taking it out on a black man has nothing to do with apartheid, but rather with basic human despicable behavior.
Cruelty is alive and well all over the world!! This is just one example of things that happen every day! If people could just stop, for one minute, and realize we are all humans, it might make a difference. Hatred and bullying and violence are taught! You are not born with this. You are taught this. It's wrong. The men who tied this man to the truck and dragged him to his death, were taught this. They believed they would not get punished and they are probably right. Human rights have never been at the forefront in Africa AND they are slipping around the world. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It's just sick....
I am confused; 1st paragraph............ victum was dragged behind police van..... an onlooker filmed the whole thing.was later found dead in a police jail cell. WTF. who was found dead, the onlooker, or who?
It seems blacks can never get a break anywhere in the world...what a f*cking shame. You could never see a white dude done like this anywhere on Earth.
Will we ever stop our inhumanity to each other? I hope NBC runs a follow up on this horrendous story.
Later on it says it was the cab driver. "Macia was found dead in a police cell late Tuesday in the Daveyton township east of Johannesburg."
Don't hurt your brains psycho-analyzing this. It's nothing more than a black country run by black people.
There's not a single country anywhere in the world being run by blacks, that isn't a third-world sh!thole.
On the bright side, S. Africa is a great backpacking destination for confused, white, liberal kids attending Berkley who want to spread the warmth and hypocrisy of liberalism. It would certainly help cull the entitlement herd.
Carringconcealed: I regret that your #1.9 comment comes directly under my own post, as having 'ignored this author' (you), I'd like to get as far away from you as I can since your comments are never uplifting, but instead are nasty, rude, and generally worthless.
arringconcealed: I regret that your #1.9 comment comes directly under my own post, as having 'ignored this author', I'd like to get as far away from you as I can
enn
if you " ignored this author" how would you know? just curious.
Too bad we cant hire these guys and send them to Washington with about 500 vans!
Scooter: The comment is hidden, but the name pops up.
I refuse to watch the video. I've wrecked dirtbikes and have a complete sensing of just the beginning of the pain that this man suffered while these men were trying to kill him. Well they did kill him and what you will never see here is the amount of damage to his body by way of the wire wheeled grinder affect. Someone should have tried to stop those police from that. They were no longer officers of the law the moment that they chained him to the rear bumper of that vehicle. The public was helpless to prevent murder because there was no citizen armed and willing to uphold the laws that these officers were commiting to in plain sight of the community. A horrendous torcher to this man and everyone that had to watch that happen.
Doc, look up Laramie WY and what they did to a gay white kid years ago. Sh!t happens to white folks too, just not as reportable sometimes. It's also nice to see that MSNBCs linked photo is a broken link, good job guys..thumbs up!
carryconcealed: I see you're continuing to spread your objective, optimistic, altruistic humanity. I must say, living a life of hate and misery seems a strange choice to make. It is optional. Your screen name reminds me of the guy walking through airport security wearing a "I Got Dope" hoody. The potato goes in the front.
I have difficulty understanding how some people blame race for the abuse when it was black officers abusing a black man, its more of a social disorder or behavior problem then race, similar to Chicago style obedience training. or am I to assume that white people with guns made them do it. I guess from a liberal point of view if a person of color is involved then it must be a hate crime crime that is motivated by the white race. if that was America it would be the perfect excuse for the people to burn down Watts and riot in the streets of Oakland, drive around and shoot at peoples houses just another day in the life of the oppressed, blame it on the honkey, if it wasn't for honkeys and their disrespect these problems would not exist, its all whities fault the world is a mess. the media tells me that, black people tell me that and liberals tell me that and I read it on the internet so it must be true, Helter skelter is Charlie behind all of this. post #2 & 2.1 below represent 30% or more of people that vote. that is what is wrong with the world today.
SDN - And you liberals remind me of a bunch of self-entitled, self-loathing, American-hating knuckleheads who would sell your country down the river if it meant you could garner a couple of more personal rights and freedoms you incorrectly believe you deserve, yet won't life a finger to defend.
Liberals are a scourge in this country and will ultimately be the reason why the United States will be nothing more than a pathetic shell of what it is today within the next two decades.
You're deserving of nothing other than complete and absolute disdain and disgust...
carry:
Like I said.............
"...American-hating knuckleheads who would sell your country down the river if it meant you could garner a couple of more personal rights and freedoms you incorrectly believe you deserve, yet won't life a finger to defend."
Stand in front of your mirror with your favorite weapon, and repeat the above.
I guess you've never heard of the Holocaust.
Doc, you mean like what happened to our helicopter pilots in Somalia?
Doc....I guess you missed all the murderous hordes who raped, pillaged and slaughtered all those South African farmers and their families, huh?....
Carryingconcealed What you fail to grasp in your hatred for liberals and your general statement about them ruining America. Is that America was built to include people of all races, genders and ideals.
Just because you don't agree with someone's point of view doesn't give you the right to berate and insult them.
Lumping people into one group like you do is your first mistake. It shows how shortsighted you really are. Extricating fecal matter such as yourself from our great country is something most of us would love to see.
P.S. Your lack of intelligence is showing.
These guys could get a job in Oakland.
So far, so good.
Followed by this? Oops. Pot, meet kettle.
"Faces of Death" on nbcnews.com.
DocHolliday - Read a detailed account of the Chipman Street murders in Knoxville, Tennessee, and tell me how they are less horrendous than this crime.
I wonder if citizens are allowed to own weapons in South Africa?
Didn't a couple of white guys tie a black person to the back of their pickup truck and drag him to his death also?
I could tell my parents hated me.
My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.
At least it's not RACIST......
the police that did this should be tied and dragged behind a vehicle with spectators cheering on the side of the road
Quit playing the race card, people. This is a clear case of police brutality. If you watch the video, you will see two articulate men speaking English to the reporter. Could you give an interview in a foreign language to a foreign reporter?
Se Se Oui Oui
So moral of the story, don't over charge taxi fares in South Aftrica. It may drag you down.
christian:
One can't help revealing themselves - especially if they are driven by something they've let get completely out of control.
concealedcarry says "You're deserving of nothing other than complete and absolute disdain and disgust...".
This epithet spewed at a person about whom he knows absolutely nothing. He doesn't really think this - he hasn't the capacity. He simply has chosen to think this way.
Such ranting certainly reveals the processes of the mind creating them. He hates - he hates me, you, 'liberals' (whatever he imagines 'them' to be), any and all non-white ethnicities, gays, anyone educated, women most likely, and all the time wondering why the world considers him as you described. Just be happy you aren't driven blindly by such hate and desperation.
By the way, I'm nominating him for 'Poster Boy' in the legislation to require emotional screening for all gun permit applications. His posts, historically, will prove to be a more than convincing resume.
Christian said: "Extricating fecal matter such as yourself from our great country is something most of us would love to see. P.S. Your lack of intelligence is showing."
Well congratulations, Christian, your moniker and your post just combined to create a classic oxymoron.
As for intelligence...don't fool yourself, nimrod. I know you libbies love to console yourselves at night with the misguided assumption that anyone who disagrees with you must be a toothless, trailer-dwelling hick, but we're smarter than the av-er-age bear, Boo Boo.
People like me scare you because you mistakenly equate intelligence with the faux tolerance and compassion that defines your party, but we're not all so fake. We call it like we see it, but what we don't do is call ourselves a christian and then refer to people who disagree with us as "fecal matter."
And you're wrong about something else as well: this isn't a great country any longer. You liberals have seen to that.
And I nominate you as the poster boy for the hypocrisy that defines your party, SDN.
You liberals are a bunch of two-faced punks. Stop using people like me as a diversion for your own hate and intolerance. Grow a pair and admit that you hate me and everyone else who would dare disagree with anything you believe.
Here, I'll show you how easy it is: I despise liberals, their platform and everything they stand for. You're a bunch of self-entitled, self-loathing, American-hating scum who have no loyalty to anyone or anything except for yourselves.
Now you go...
Only a self absorbed RWNJ would call themselves carryingconcealed, why don't you conceal your ignorance and flaunt your weapon Yosemite Sam style.
Hey everybody I'm packing heat duh duh I can hit the side of a barn at 50 paces duh duh.
Now go watch your right wing media fiction and STFU
carry:
What 'party' would that be? The nation-destroying conspiracy that you've positively identified as 'liberals'?
"liberal" (Encarta) "tolerant of different views and standards of behavior in others". Is that not the exact opposite of what you so vehemently accuse me? You have your own self-serving definition? Should we be surprised?
"Punks"? "Grow a pair"? Lot to be said for originality.
No, I don't hate you, or anyone else. I don't fear you, or anyone else. Why would I? Why would you need to 'concealed carry'- isn't that the real question?
Black on black murder? Why does that not surprize me? O---Savage!!!!!
Carrying concealed:
you are concealing your brains which you carry in your back pocket. you worthless human!!
i hope there is a judge up in heaven like you yokums like to believe. I hope he metes out karma and you will come back as a non white!!
Whoa... Carrying. Come out of the bunker. Pick up a hobby (other than gun collecting, that is). Get some anger management help, or at least some sedatives.
There is all kinds of racial and non racial stuff like this going on all the time around the world.. Seems peace loving Islamists love to do this to Christians in Muslim controlled countries.. Since it is not illegal for a Muslim to kill a Christian in places like Pakistan and Afghanistan it is hardly noticed.. The insane number of deaths in Mexico and in large US cities further prove these people are all just nuts.. The Black racists did not notice the Black police who were involved.. Some African countries make the Middle East look peaceful as they are brutal places..
Of course "getting rid of" apartheid hasn't fixed the problems in S.F. -- because San Fransisco isn't anywhere near South Africa.
I don't know about other keyboards, but on mine the "A" and "F" keys are separated by the "S" and "D" keys!
And everyone who thinks guns should just be outlawed and nobody should ever be legally allowed to have one at all -- move to Chicago. I hear nobody has the right to have even a cap gun there.
Yes, that was VERY heavy sarcasm.
Or you can go liberal with that rant and say "I can hit a 12 year old girl from a moving car at a block and a half" or "I can slaughter massive amounts of children in a school" or "I can shoot cops and cause mayhem in SoCal".
See, bragging about shooting the side of a barn at 50 paces seems pretty tame compared to armed liberals.
If liberals have all the answers please explain why liberal run cities are crime ridden, bankrupt @!$%#holes.
when will it end:
Because there are unethical people in all ethnicities does not justify a return to the brutality of Apartheid.
Under Apartheid, if Mr. Marcia had been dragged and killed by these "policemen," there would not have been any chance that these unlawful men would have been brought to justice. The local justice system should hold these errant policemen accountable. If not, the international community should decry this vicious death so that these men will be sent to prison.
cannon:
Because of the conservative demographic?
WHY? is he handcuffed to the back of the van? WHAT did he do? hmmmmmmmmm nobody is asking that, do-sent make it right, but over there they deal with things differently, there is more to the story.
Carryingconcealed: you are outgunned, by your mythical libbies that you despise so. Spew your hatred somewhere else where it is welcome, then cry when you lose the right to shout hatred at the top of your lungs. Hiding behind pseudo intelligence can't mask the ignorance of your soul, especially from true Americans who were raised to be tolerant of others' differences, especially differences of opinion. I do enjoy your humorous posts for their entertainment value, although they are sadly getting more pathetic by the day. And save your liberal last resort (can't defend your position, so denigrate to name calling), we all know what you think of any one who dares to disagree with you.
"I guess you've never heard of the Holocaust. "
if you are referring to the jews, they are not white. even if white people were treated thusly during ww II, it was during a war! not in time of peace by POLICE officers!
cannonballer,
What "Conservative" countries are crime free?
The looming U.S. Sequester is a glaring example of Conservative malfeasance.
Kilroy,
One would hate to think that your username is insight into your idea of "justice." However, how can it be justified that the South African police had a legal right to tie Marcia to the back of a truck and drag him to his death?
Lugdush said:
"Carryingconcealed: you are outgunned, by your mythical libbies that you despise so. "
if you think "liberals" are mythical then you need to get out more and pay more attention to what's going on around you.
"Spew your hatred somewhere else where it is welcome,"
what could be anymore hateful than telling people their heritage is unworthy of "america" and in order to come here to live you have to give it all up? so, according to roosevelt, mr. concealeds' "hatred" is actually, love it or leave it, sympathetic to the original idea of "america". it's just become politically incorrect to be outspoken about what america really is.
Apartheid was bad but what replaced it is far worse. Crime, extreme violence and police corruption is rampant, and only the wealthy and well connected are able to afford security.
Property continues to be confiscated and turned over to those uninterested and/or incapable of operating it resulting in a loss of productivity as farms and businesses are looted and fall into disrepair. This is something never reported on in this country.
Bayner - Post your address and I'll give you an opportunity to make me STFU, Internet tough-guy.
And who are you fooling, Lug Douche? You're more than entertained by what I write, which is why you can't help but respond. You can't stand it that there are millions of people in this country who disagree with every single facet of your putrid platform, and it pisses you off.
You liberals are fools across the board, but enjoy the ride while it lasts. Won't be much longer now...
Lee936758
Newtown, Colombine, Tim McVeigh, Columbus, Hitler ad infinitum....
white on white crime, WHY DOES THAT NOT SURPRISE ME?
Nonsense!
Unfortunately, corruption is woven into many societies.
However, nothing can be worse than virtual life-time legalized slavery.
I'd define 'liberals' as those taught 'how to think', 'conservatives' as those taught 'what to think'. Figure it out yourself, objectively, or just listen to those with a very lucrative agenda.
If by taught how to think you mean taught to ignore the reality of the world in which they live, and have intimate conversations with the butterflies and unicorns that inhabit their world of make believe, you're exactly right.
Get back to me on how that works out for you in a few years...
The white invaders still control south Africa. And right wing racism is alive and well. Those cops should be given the death penalty, but instead they will probably kill the person who video taped the indecent. I wonder if those cops are related to the guys in Texas who dragged Mr. Byrd to his death some years ago? Same mentality.
Someone has some splaining to do.
Just look at Zimbabwe (sp?). Once the blacks came to power the country went totally to hell. That country was once the breadbasket of Africa. Seems like S. Africa is following suit. Pretty frikin sad.
25walker 1.59
Do you have any idea what you're talking about?
The country is in far worse shape post apartheid with murder rates something like 6 times higher than here in the U.S. Consequently, private security is a big business in South Africa with such private security forces personnel in greater numbers than the police and army combined.
Finally, if you understood apartheid, you would know it was a system of strict segregation replete with discrimination, but it was not slavery, virtual or otherwise.
hey 25, kilroy has nothing to do with killing, geez, how many times do i have to say this,? over and over again some intellectual giant , analyzes that name , and comes up with that retarded conclusion . unbelievable, look it the hell up. you are sitting at a computer. anyways. in answer to your question, since your reading comprehension seems to be off. i said it does not make it right. but they do not tell you WHY he is handcuffed to the van do they? thats my point , all the time the story is not reported correctly, only on the slant to make it appealing . and be dammed if that ( truth ) thing get in the way. no dragging the guy was not justified, but if you read the story , he died from internal bleeding. hmmmmm that says he had the holy sh@t beat out of him. why ? maybe he was not the innocent cab driver that he is said to be. hell man even evil, child murdering throat slitting @!$%#s drive cabs.
That must be it, all the Conservatives have run Chicago and L.A. into the ground. And don't even get me started on that pos conservative in NY that's restricting how big of a sugary beverage I can choose to drink at a restaurant.
concealed: See, you just proved my point. My screen name is my FIRST NAME! Not my religion! LOL
It seems apartheid was the least of their problems. The racial hatred is still very prevalent on both sides of the issue.
This goes beyond hatred. How do we draw the line in this case between racism and police brutality?
This is a case of police brutality
This is a case of animal cruelty.. JK
When the situation was one/several black Africans assaulting another black African how can you call "racism"?
NVArt- that what I was thinking, by the looks of the super blurry picture atleast one of the officers was black. Quit it with the race thing this is clear and simple police brutality.
Am I a bad person? My first thought was "Thank God the police weren't white".
It's sad but the fear of racial hatred thrown at a whole group because of a few scares me more than police brutality. I guess mainly because the police brutality can be seen for exactly what it is and can be dealt with, and hopefully it will be.
(implying a black cop can't be racist against other blacks)
How is black on black racial hatred? Keep trying to put that square peg in a round hole.
Clearly racism.
The guys that made the truck were Asian.
Many years ago saw an interview with Robert Mugabe (now Pre Zimbabwe) he spoke perfect Oxford English and stated that the reason African Countries could only be single party (ie Marxist) elections is because if multi-party the split will be Tribal. Which I suspect this assault was probably based on.
What, the "bruddas" out there in Africa don't get along????? Slavery was the best thing that ever happened to our American blacks, none of them would ever return given the chance, boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
backtobasics, I'm looking for the sarcasm in your post and I'm not seeing it, so I have to infer you're serious. Can you possibly really be serious?
slavery can certainly never be described as "the best thing" that can happen to ANY group of people. BUT, blacks in America are certainly better off now than they would have been in Africa! And lets not forget, the slave traders on the other side of the Atlantic were all black!!!
TO Youwish3578139... You wish you were a human being. And, indeed, if more people at least acted like humans and not animals... Well, that thought may be lost on you.
I think people like Youwish... would be surprised by the number of African-Americans willing to return to Africa under the right conditions.
There are plenty of business opportunities there, and the entire continent is poised to take its place among developing continents. This is in no small part due to China's rise and its investment in Africa. The West, not wanting to be left out, has been forced to discard its centuries-old policy of exploitation and under-development, and invest there, too.
"Slavery was the best thing that ever happened to our American blacks..."
You might think you can say any asinine thing that pops into your head youwish, thinking you are entirely anonymous on the vine. Would you make such a statement if we knew your real name? If you were talking to a group including some black people? I would watch the racist spewing. Some day it will catch up with you.
Dont be a hypocrit ECF...Post your name and address when making criticism about safety in anonymity.
Youwish..
Not sure what race you are, but I wonder if you would consider returning to the country of your origin-please?
ECF, As messed up as Youwish's comments are I feel that he should be able to make them if he truly thinks it. If we go threatening people for their thoughts (which is sorta what you did) we have no exchange and people "who we should be aware of" go underground. Deal with the statements don't threaten the person, you are lowering yourself.
I cant help but wonder if the pan atlantic slave trade never happened, would the continent Africa still be as undeveloped as it is? What I mean is that a lot of great things came from Africa, for example Mathematics. After slavery was ended, African Americans contributed a lot to society, such as advancements in Brain Surgery or the invention of the Stop Light. Would all of this greatness still manifested if Africans never came to America?
big bully:
I agree with your highlighting of African contributions to progress, in several fields. According to the "Human Genome Project", we all, in fact, came from East Africa. The entire Human Race. Personally, I think that's very cool indeed.
automatically assume its white officers? I watched the video and it looks to me like it's black officers who tied him to the back of the truck.
I don't see where anybody said they were white officers....confused....
In contrast, the officers seem black to me.
amazing the way blacks are treating there own kind....shameful...we will have to send Al and Jesse there to fix things the way they did here...good luck if it happens
Evil knows no skin color. It may be a regional thing. But debating who did it, does not detract from the horror one human being can inflict on another. Justice is elusive in this world where money, greed, and even plain getting attention for bad (such a weak word here) behavior is honored not by justice but by getting the most tweets. Those making light of this... hope you don't have to deal with this horror; after all, it can happen everywhere it seems.
"Their own kind", Mike?
I haven't heard that expression for years, and thankfully so.
This has less to do about race and more to do about culture and corruption. Since DeKamp and Mandela South Africa has been besieged with a series of scandalous leaders and ministers. The issues are more along tribal lines since many vote according to tribal affiliations such as the Zulu Nation. Like every post colonial African Nation South Africa is doomed to chaos.
Yes, it is sad to watch these slow-motion train wrecks--reminds me of Rhodesia devolving into Zimbabwe (only with gold and diamonds).
And these are the creeps that want the world to believe that Oscar Pistorius committed pre-meditated murder?!?! In a nation where the police can't be trusted and they're just as likely to commit heinous crimes as the criminals they purport to catch, and where the incidence rates of murder and rape per capita are the highest of any
civilizednation on the face of the planet, it seems to me that Pistorius probably had good reason to fear for his safety and not to call the police for help... Just saying.Thank god we have the police to protect us against crime!.
If our police force had to work in South Africa I seriously doubt that it would be long at all before some of them did the same damned thing.
Now I'm not defending nor condoning this behavior at all! But...South Africa is the place that has given mankind such wonderful inventions as spring loaded sword blades hung under your car doors and the car mounted automatic flame thrower.
Which are some of the South African answers to anti vehicle theft/ car alarms, since those people are constantly exposed to violent car jackings, routine kidnappings,murder and rape all in the broad light of day with about 1000 witnesses looking on... for having the nerve to stop at a red light or park their car to buy groceries...and these wonderful human interactions are taking place in those streets 24 hours a day 365 days a year!
It is just a cesspool of humanity,brutality and unabated lethal violence that has normal old everyday people living in armed compounds and riding around armed to the teeth just to take their children to school or for a happy little drive through town. And none of this has a particular color or race attached to it! It is without a doubt one of if not "the" most violent place on earth! And people will just stand there and watch another poor soul be literally eviserated with a machette in front of their children for a wrist watch... then go on about their business like it's just another day in paradise!
I have a few friends in SA and this is just another day in the lives of everyone there. My friends have to use Wi-Fi to get on the internet because the lines get stolen to be recyled or resold. I'm sure Africa is a beautiful place but the people there do not know how to act like civilized individuals. The Muslim extremists, pirates and constant coups that go on there tell me just one thing - stay away.
it does have a color and race attached to it. open your eyes
This is barbaric and cruel.There are no words strong enough to condemn these murderers in uniform.The article states that their police lack training.What they lack is human decency.
Hunt said: "And none of this has a particular color or race attached to it!"
I was enjoying the truth of your post until I read that little gem, Hunt.
Are you really so afraid to speak the truth for fear of offending some a$$hole that you'll resort to lies?
There absolutely is a particular color or race attached to it, and it's called B-L-A-C-K.
Stop being so G'Damned PC...
Unfortunately, too many people ARE afraid to upset the apple cart and call a spade a spade. The photographs I have seen are of Black cops handcuffing this poor man to the back of the police vehicle and driving off. Everyone wants to believe that only White people are to blame for all the ills of the world, when in fact, blacks are just as barbaric as any other race in past and present history. If someone doesn't toe the line and believe every single word the media and press offers us for consumption, then they are labeled crazy, insane, unstable, liar, and much, much worse. This photo speaks much louder than any mouthpiece ever could, there is no denying the truth of it as much as many would like to sweep facts under the carpet. People need to think for themselves and not be led around by the nose...
It has nothing to do with that guys... that was not a PC statement. That culture is so mixed... there is absolutely no way to tell who is who and what came from what except on the extreme end of white and black.
Besides that the internal racism and predjudice there goes on in degrees of color..I'm talking tints and shades nearly indistinguishable to anybody else. It is not like the states in most regards...where the actual color lines are discernable... except in places like Hawaii, where there are so many mixed blood lines, from polynesian to oriental to what have you it's a genetic toss up.
That part of Africa is a genetic and cultural melting pot in every sense of the term...and unless they are true Dutch/German descendants or actual tribal blood like Zulu or something there is no way to tell the predominant linneage and that is the entire point!
The point being that South Africans got exactly what they wanted and assimilated cultures and blood and what did it do for them? Absolutely nothing!
What it did was create a form of racism that is literally as divided as the genetics and a lot of that violence is motivated by pure predjudice alone and has not a damn thing to do with "black and white." in the basic sense... All of which leads one to believe that no matter what you do and who is governing who....mankind is wholly incapable of either social or genetic harmony! And this Utopian mind fugg of peace love and harmony will come to those who accept people for what they are despite color and creed is a pipe dream!
@Hunt-797031
I agree with most of what you say, but I wonder if you realize that we are on a fast track to becoming that same kind of society here?
Then I stand corrected, Hunt. Thanks for the clarification.
Theres no question about it! twodog. You know I was pretty niave when I was younger. I'm on the close end of the so called "baby boomer' generation..born in the early 60's and I grew up when people in this country were lighting candles and singing cumbaya and all giddy over free love and harmony being the cure all for what ailes us and I bought it all... for a time.
Then I started to travel and I traveled far and wide and always by way of seaports which are always the most culturally and genetically diverse regions in any country and what I began to realize is that there is no such thing as cultural and genetic harmony any where on this earth! Not in the Utopian sense that the peace and love crowd wants everyone to believe. It just does not exist and time won't help!
My eyes were really opened in places like South Africa and especially Hawaii of all places which from the outside seems to be a land of dreams and love. Bullsh##t!! Nowhere on earth have I seen such cultural and racial division! I mean from island to island, race to race and all the inbetweens, Micronesain, polynesian, Vietnamese, Chinese,Caucasion you name it! There was so much underlying racial predjudice and disharmony in places like Oahu it was friggin scary! And after spending three years of my life there what became clear to me is... that other than a finacial heirarchy in places.. that population was as genetically and culturally diversified as any and it didn't make a tinkers damn!
It was the bird of a feather syndrom every where you went! Of course it is well hidden from a casual tourist..but get out there and live in that place with those people and see what you get! And all the racial and cultural pandering in the world did not help one bit! Human beings are just predisposed to constant jealousey and dissatisfaction on the most minute levels that it is insidious.
People are also the same no matter where you go... the dreams and aspirations and desires and emotions are the same..but so are the reactions to them and very rarely are they harmonious for any length of time at all.
Calling a spade a spade? Was that itentional? I thought they were all spades?
hunt:
"Human beings are just predisposed to constant jealousey and dissatisfaction on the most minute levels that it is insidious."
Some humans aren't.
".. the dreams and aspirations and desires and emotions are the same..but so are the reactions to them and very rarely are they harmonious for any length of time at all."
Your reactions are a choice you make in every circumstance - unless, of course, you have a rigid agenda and are unwilling to adapt. The quality of your existence is what you make it.
I've traveled extensively, and lived overseas. I've never had a problem with anyone. Being friendly, non-judgemental (!), respectful and courteous has served me everywhere I've been. You reap what you sow. Hate will get you just what you deserve.
I've heard people traveling in Guatemala say to each other - "this place in crawling with these f#$@ing greasers". Duh. The Ugly Traveler lives- if only barely.
This is why a society with guns is a safer society...in the long run.
"They got it on video, Most of those don't lie."
They got the van driving away on video sheeple. They don't have the part where the taxi driver beat the $hit out of one of the policeman and took his weapon away. Way to go media, pick and choose, cut and paste and POOF a guy was found dead after being dragged by a police van.
I thought he was killed by the van that what dragging him, and that he hadn't done anything wrong, poor guy! At least at the very end of the story you tell the rest of the half truth.
Why not have the headline read " Taxi driver attacks police and steals his weapon, threatening dozens of innocent bystanders"? Not as catchy I guess.
So, that excuses dragging another human being behind a truck and leaving him in a cell to die? What the hell is wrong with you? Do you honestly think that that is ok? Seriously? I don't care what someone does. Dragging them to death behind a police car is not right. If you think it is, you need to have your head examined as well as your heart.
He had been 'possibly holding up traffic' and in what world do the police get to be so personally offended that they tie a HUMAN BEING to the back of a moving vehicle and it's okay?!? So, F&W, your made-up story about the incident only shows what kinds of things YOU would kill another human being over. Wear a sign, so nobody offends you as you are dangerous.
I understand that the media does not tell the entire truth, and that is an enormous problem in this country (and abroad). We are spoon fed quite a bit of tripe and rhetoric and that is where the art of discernment comes into play. So, I understand the first part of your comment, and will check other sources to get the entire pictue (and I should not have to, as you state). With that said, I am going to disagree with you on your point about this man and his "punishment". I'm sorry, there is nothing right about this level of barbarity when dealing with someone including a criminal. It goes beyond all moral decency and moves directly into the waters of depravity. No one deserves this type of treatment, NO ONE. This police were WRONG on their treatment of this criminal, period. There are different ways to deal with criminals, dragging them behind a vehicle and killing them IS NOT the answer...
From the NY Times story on this incident:
Meanwhile the national political debate around crime became more heated. In 2008, the deputy police minister, Susan Shabangu, exhorted the police to use maximum force in a speech at an anti-crime rally in the capital, Pretoria, telling them, “they have permission to kill these criminals.”
Her remarks courted controversy, but they were widely praised.
“I want no warning shots,” she said. “You have one shot and it must be a kill shot. If you miss, the criminals will go for the kill. They don’t miss. We can’t take this chance.”
A lawless society and the means to combat it - never going to be a pretty picture.
fritter:
Rationalization is reaching heretofore unheard of levels of brutality here in the 21st Century. Good for us, huh? What an accomplishment.
fritter
You're not a former or current police officer by any chance are you? I just can't imagine any other reason anyone would defend these cops' actions.
that is actually very catchy! the fact of the matter, however, is that uniformed state controlled police purposely committed acts that led to the death of a citizen. regardless of what that "taxi driver" did and for whatever reason, the police had no right nor reason to do what they did. if the police aren't held to a much higher standard of conduct than the citizenry then what you have is nothing more than a dog-eat-dog vigilante type environment. at any rate, that kinda @!$%# happens in america all the time. the press just does a much better job at controlling what gets "let out" to to the public.
The officers involved should be arrested and charged with murder! There is nothing that man could have done to justify what the officers did to him.
Uh, he assualted a cop and took his weapon! You need to read the entire article....
It still does not justify dragging the man to his death! He did not kill anyone. There were more than enough officers to subdue him and put him in the van. There is no excuse for this. I don't care what he did. If you think this is right, I sure hope you are NOT a police officer!
So f*king what!? What the hell has that got to do with what the cops did?
JohnTown: "The police watchdog agency said the incident started just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday when the cab driver was allegedly obstructing traffic with his vehicle. Then, Macia allegedly assaulted a constable and took his weapon before he was overpowered, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said in a statement."
Too many allegedly's for me... just CYA. And, certainly no justification for police acting like animals.
Evidently its not to uncommon for police officers in South Africa to Be arrested for, or to be charged with murder... The lead detective in the Pastrious case was just removed from the case after it was revealed that he had 7 murder charges pending against him... Just another day in South Africa.
john:
You figure the penalty for those crimes is being dragged to death behind a police van? I rather the 'trial by 'peers' thing myself.
GDI -
Not quite. ATTEMPTED murder charges for firing at a vehicle. But that isn't as dramatic as your scenario.
Child molesters, generally, don't kill anyone (well, except their victims souls), and I'd not be opposed to giving them this type of 'treatment', instead of the far too few years in jail (protected) we give them now...
So, I can't agree with, 'no matter what the criminal does, they don't deserve to be treated like this' (paraphrased from a few different posters).
do you also think that the officers that strangled an autistic man to death, right here in america, for wanting to stay in a movie theater to simply watch the movie a second time, should be arrested and charged with murder? afterall, that autistic young man did absolutely "nothing" that justified him being murdered by police either. it's time for everyone to get it through their thick skulls! police do not serve and protect the general public! they serve and protect the maintenance of the power structure. they use fear to keep us in our place in order that the power structure can continue. that's why there is such an extensive effort to disarm american citizens. the police are the largest and most well organized purveyors of domestic terror here in america.
If that happened, then yes, they deserve to go to prison for murder.
However, I do not hate the police like you do and I live in Los Angeles county. We need some police, if only to slow down drivers and take reports when crimes are committed.
People wanted more minorities, including women, in the police ranks. They could not pass the test to qualify. So what did they do?
They lowered and lowered and lowered the bar so they could get their quotas. Gang bangers, those with records, not so 'fine and upstanding citizens' thus 'qualified' to become police officers. Here in California, they also became prison guards.
I saw this coming long ago. Not sure why nobody else did...
Little wonder that South Africa has the highest murder rate in the world. The police are incompetent cretins.
These guys would be great for the LAPD. lol
and the NYPD.
Well...I try and use LOL only when something is actually funny; not sarcastic, not brutal, not for a serious conversation. Shallow tweeter says, 'LOL'. Public responds, 'Jacka$$'.
Tribalism and a white minority... coming soon to America
Whatever
Good. That's how it was before we got here.
Touche, MissScarlet!!
If he would have got into the van like they wanted...he would not have been dragged...the dragging had nothing to do with his death...they do this on Jack Ass all the time...
Are you that stupid? He was dragged at high speed and probably had the flesh ripped off of him and bled to death you idiot! I cannot believe one human being would do that to another. Remind me NEVER to visit South Africa for any reason! Abusive bastards!
Isn't it hard to get into a vehicle when you've been tied, hands behind your back, to the bumper. And when he didn't drag but tried to keep somewhat upright, they fixed that. Jackass (says it all) is stupid but I don't think they kill people. You might consider thinking about the difference between reality and 'reality TV'.
why:
"the dragging had nothing to do with his death". Really?
Thought I certainly don't agree with this, upon reading down the page, it seems the taxi driver ' assaulted a cop and took his weapon " ... Would have been better just to have shot him dead, however.
I can think of someone with a seriously screwed up attitude who needs to grow up.
culheath:
They are legion......a small legion.
A growing legion. Ever seen Idiocracy? First I thought it was just stupid, then I thought it was funny. Now, it scares the crap out of me, as I see it happening before my eyes.
justin:
A true idiocracy would be impossible to achieve in a society that has free elections.
In my experience, an idiocracy is a society described by someone whose candidate was defeated in the previous election.
At least there weren't any caucasians involved....
Seriously?!?
These bastards need to be shot
I would do the same exact thing to these bustards in public until death ensues.
Horrible
Animals
I guess the US doesn't have a monopoly on police brutality
Sir Kit, the U.S. is a tame kitten compared to much of the World, especially 3rd World nations such as in Africa and S. America. That was a lame comment overdramatizing the situation here. This nation is so sue-happy and P.C., now, a lot if not most cases of police - citizen interaction here are "hands off" nowadays. You're lucky to be where you are. Maybe a few towns or just a few officers in certain towns are bad, but overall, the U.S. is a "non-issue" when it comes to the isolated cases of violence by police, pale in comparison to even the U.K. l.e.o. with their billy clubs, who bash any drunks mouth and drag them by all 4 limbs on their belly just for mouthing off in a cop's face. That was a really weak comparison to the "on-average" of a lot of the rest of the World, and you and others really overplay the cases here just because of a few sensationalized, isolated incidents (and before you judge my own judgment on this, yes, I have been all around the nation and seen much of the police and action, and I would say we have MORE of a civilian and upbringing/behavioral/respect issue than a police problem).
Action speaks louder than words....put the officers on trail and carry out sentencing or the police will keep doing whatever they want until they see they can't get away with it! Sick sh!t.
Well, so far every country that has gone from white rule to black rule has gone swirling down the toilet.. I'm not saying it isn't good to have black Africans in charge but it sure would be nice to see at least one country succeed. It is a little embarrassing.. It isn't like the black majority in South Africa was handed a clunker. South Africa WAS a very beautiful country with a roaring economy. Slowly but surely it is becoming 3rd world. Why?
Just like Zimbabwe - installed a black communist government, whose first priority is to break up the large (profitable and functional) white owned farms and parcel them out to their supporters - who have no idea of how to make a commercial farm work. So, Zim has gone from being the bread basket of Africa to not being able to feed themelves. These people are not ready to self-govern, will not be for another 50 years at least. Just like the muslim countries where old dictators have been overthrown - now you have a muslim government, determined to take the country back to the stone age (but with modern weapons). And WE, like pure fools, support the overthrows!
If you think all the people dying and working decades in mines that led to so much more death was the 'good ole times', you might want a time-machine... hopefully we will evolve and have time to repair centuries of crimes against native peoples in all countries.
South Africa was a violent country even when it was under "white rule". What are you talking about?
Bordercat & Wych
Is there a parallel with the U.S. there? Just asking....
There is one common thread among black leadership, whether it be in the USA, Africa, South America or elsewhere...It is a liberal, socialist/communist thread... Perhaps it is time to see what a common sense, color blind, black leadership would be able to do given the awesome resources.. It is a shame really that the first black president is Obama and not a man with GUTS... That would have helped other black men and women world wide to do the right things.. Fairness is not a policy.. It is a feeling.. Feelings don't run businesses or countries.. Firmly administered laws, equal access to money and funding for all, non interference by government... This is what needs to be seen in leadership, black or white..
I'm not sure you know what "socialist" and "communist" mean. One has freedom of religion, one does not. One has no rights to personal property, the other does. One has one party government, the other does not. The list of opposites goes on and on.
If you knew what socialism was you'd realize that "firmly administered laws, equal access to money and funding for all" is a pretty good definition. Although I'm not sure who you want to administer the laws and make sure everyone has equal access to money and funding if not the government.
bordecat1 - you obviously do not have a clue about Africa, If you don't have one ruling party then the split will be on Tribal Lines. Politics ie right vs left is irrelevant.
border:
Of course.