South African Police Continue Apartheid-Era Torture Methods

Wed Jul 16 2025 20:19:20 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)
South African Police Continue Apartheid-Era Torture Methods

A shocking report reveals persistent use of suffocation techniques by South African police against suspects, contradicting the post-apartheid government's promised reforms.


Despite a constitution that bans torture, South Africa's police force is found to use suffocation techniques reminiscent of apartheid-era abuses, highlighting ongoing failures in justice reform and police accountability.



In a troubling revelation, a New York Times investigation has exposed that South African police forces continue to utilize a notorious interrogation technique known as "tubing," which involves suffocating suspects. This practice harks back to the brutal methods employed during apartheid when the white-led police force terrorized Black South Africans.

Post-apartheid, the nation instituted a constitution that explicitly prohibited such torture and committed to international treaties aimed at preventing these abuses. Yet, data analyzed from 2012 to 2023 indicates that an average of three complaints per week have been lodged against police for using this suffocation method during interrogations.

This stark contrast raises alarms about a government once led by freedom fighters—those who played pivotal roles in the liberation of Black South Africans—now presiding over a police force that is accused of inflicting similar atrocities. Khulu Mbatha, a member of the African National Congress (ANC) during the liberation era, expressed shock over the findings, recalling the ANC's pledge at its ascendency to power in 1994: “No soul should be subjected to that.”

South Africa grapples with some of the highest murder rates globally, and the challenges of addressing rampant crime often lead to a culture of impunity within the police ranks. The persistence of these torture methods emphasizes a grim reality in a country striving to recover from its oppressive past.

MORE ON THEME

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:54:27 GMT

Afghan Women Face Harsh Reality Upon Return from Iran Deportation

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:54:27 GMT
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:52:39 GMT

Israel Strikes Syrian Forces Amid Sectarian Violence in Suweida

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:52:39 GMT
Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:48:48 GMT

Driver Arrested in Hit-and-Run Death of Fauja Singh, World's 'Oldest' Marathon Runner

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:48:48 GMT
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:05:31 GMT

Convicted Murderer of British Backpacker Peter Falconio Passes Away in Custody

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:05:31 GMT
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:05:42 GMT

**Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict: New Report Exposes Execution of Aid Workers**

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:05:42 GMT
Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:46:45 GMT

Remembering Muhammadu Buhari: The Journey from Military Leader to Democratic President

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 15:46:45 GMT
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:06:15 GMT

Exposing Lawfare: The Hijacking of Justice by Legal Titans

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 20:06:15 GMT
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:50:55 GMT

MP Faces Charges for Allegations Against Lesotho Monarch

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:50:55 GMT
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:16:24 GMT

**Backpacker Rescued After 11 Days Lost in Australian Outback**

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:16:24 GMT
Mon, 14 Jul 2025 08:32:50 GMT

South African Police Minister Faces Suspension Amid Organized Crime Allegations

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 08:32:50 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:43:23 GMT

South Africa’s Police Minister on Leave Amid Serious Organised Crime Allegations

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 21:43:23 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 19:32:01 GMT

South African President Initiates Inquiry into Police Minister Amid Corruption Allegations

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 19:32:01 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 11:58:43 GMT

Mother's Heartbreak: 12-Year-Old Girl Killed by Stray Bullet Amid Protests in Kenya

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 11:58:43 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:53:57 GMT

North Korea Unveils Wonsan Kalma Resort to Russian Tourists Amid Human Rights Concerns

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:53:57 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:49:51 GMT

Survival Against the Odds: German Backpacker Rescued in Australia's Outback

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:49:51 GMT
Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:47:37 GMT

Trump Administration's Immigration Detention Policies Challenged by Judge

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 02:47:37 GMT
Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:43:01 GMT

Tragic Balcony Fall Claims Life of 25-Year-Old in Malta

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 15:43:01 GMT
Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:45:12 GMT

Indigenous Australians Battle Coal Mine Threat to Sacred Springs

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:45:12 GMT
Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:36:47 GMT

Mother Grieves for Daughter Shot and Killed During Kenya Protests

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:36:47 GMT
Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:29:35 GMT

Wonsan Kalma Resort Opens Its Doors to First Russian Tourists Amid Controversy

Sat, 12 Jul 2025 03:29:35 GMT

Follow us

© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.