Ipid investigates death of Upington woman in police holding cells
A woman was found dead in the holding cells at the Rosedale police station.
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THE INDEPENDENT Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is probing the death of a 57-year-old woman who was found unresponsive in the holding cells at the Rosedale police station in Upington.
A community member apparently contacted the police at about 4.18am on December 3 to report a person lying on the sidewalk of Bakenskop Street in Rosedale.
Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping said two officers who responded found an unknown woman lying on the sidewalk.
“It is alleged that the unknown female, who was not responsive at the time, was transported to the police station and detained in a detention cell,” Suping said.
“At about 6.10am on the same day, during a cell inspection, the deceased [the woman] was still not responsive in the cell. Medical emergency services were called in, and they declared the unknown female dead in the cells and [her body] was transported to the local mortuary.”
She added that Ipid was notified shortly after 7am, and the deceased was later identified as a 57-year-old woman.
“She allegedly had external injuries to her body. The investigation is still in its infancy stages, and more will be uncovered during the investigation. A post-mortem is expected to be conducted to determine the cause of death,” Suping stated.