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During the apartheid regime, South Africa's police force employed brutal methods of interrogation, notably suffocating Black individuals, a practice now resurfacing decades later. Despite a constitutional commitment to human rights and the prohibition of torture, a New York Times investigation, in collaboration with Viewfinder, reveals that allegations of police using "tubing," or suffocation during interrogations, have persisted from 2012 to 2023, with an average of three complaints each week.
This grim reality stands as a stark violation of the promises made by the African National Congress (A.N.C.) upon taking power in 1994, which vowed never to revert back to the oppressive methods of the apartheid era. Khulu Mbatha, a veteran of the A.N.C., expressed his shock, suggesting that the ongoing torture represents a deep betrayal of the sacrifices made during the struggle for freedom.
As South Africa wrestles with one of the highest murder rates globally, the police face immense pressure to combat crime effectively. However, the use of torture tactics brings serious ethical concerns to the forefront, raising the question of whether the country is truly upholding the principles of dignity and justice that were fought for during the liberation struggle.
During the apartheid regime, South Africa's police force employed brutal methods of interrogation, notably suffocating Black individuals, a practice now resurfacing decades later. Despite a constitutional commitment to human rights and the prohibition of torture, a New York Times investigation, in collaboration with Viewfinder, reveals that allegations of police using "tubing," or suffocation during interrogations, have persisted from 2012 to 2023, with an average of three complaints each week.
This grim reality stands as a stark violation of the promises made by the African National Congress (A.N.C.) upon taking power in 1994, which vowed never to revert back to the oppressive methods of the apartheid era. Khulu Mbatha, a veteran of the A.N.C., expressed his shock, suggesting that the ongoing torture represents a deep betrayal of the sacrifices made during the struggle for freedom.
As South Africa wrestles with one of the highest murder rates globally, the police face immense pressure to combat crime effectively. However, the use of torture tactics brings serious ethical concerns to the forefront, raising the question of whether the country is truly upholding the principles of dignity and justice that were fought for during the liberation struggle.
