In a startling finding, a New York Times analysis reveals that South African police are still employing torture techniques reminiscent of apartheid, specifically a suffocation tactic known as "tubing." This comes despite the country's Constitution and international treaties outlawing such practices after the end of apartheid over 30 years ago.
From 2012 to 2023, an average of three complaints weekly were filed by individuals alleging they were subjected to tubing during police interrogations. This contradiction raises grave concerns, as those who once fought for freedom now govern a police force accused of repeating the very abuses they once opposed. Khulu Mbatha, a senior member of the African National Congress, expressed his shock, recalling the promises made by the party upon gaining power in 1994, which emphasized the importance of protecting all souls from torture.
The persistence of such brutal practices amidst contemporary governance under a liberation party reflects a deep-seated crisis in law enforcement and human rights in South Africa. With soaring crime rates, the dilemma of tackling crime without repeating the violence of the past remains a complex and troubling issue for the nation.
