City Forum Building, 114 Vermeulen Street www.icd.gov.
A 23-year-old woman, Constance Phepeng who was detained for murder at Bethulie SAPS in the Free State died in the police cells on 24 January 2010. It is alleged that the police found the deceased hanging in the cells while doing their periodic cell visits on the 24th of January 2010. A napkin was allegedly used to commit the act.
The Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) was immediately notified of the situation and an ICD investigator was dispatched to the crime scene. Upon his arrival he discovered that the deceased had already been certified dead. The ICD immediately opened an inquest docket to establish circumstances around her death.
At this stage no foul play is suspected. A post-mortem was attended and the pathologist's findings are consistent with that of hanging as established by the ICD.
The deased had been in detention since 22/01/2010.