His Excellency Nelson Mandela
President of South Africa
Tuynhuis
Cape Town
South Africa

Vienna, 2 July 1998

Dear Sir,

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the brutal beating of Thabo Mabaso, a journalist working for the daily Cape Argus, by the police in Cape Town.

We are informed that on 27 June 1998 Mabaso was beaten by ten policeman at the Gugulethu police station. He was detained overnight and released the following day. Mabaso was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged on 29 June, but has lost sight in his left eye.

African National Congress (ANC) Western Cape leader Ebrahim Rasool has called for the immediate suspension of the policemen on duty at the time of the assault. Rasool said that those responsible did not deserve to be members of the South Africa Police Service and had shown no respect for the country’s laws.

IPI, the global network of editors and media executives, urges that you authorise an immediate and thorough investigation into the matter and that those responsible are brought to justice.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director

CC: Mr. George Fivaz
National Police Commissioner
Pretoria
South Africa