The quiet village of Dzingahe outside Thohoyandou has been left in shock following the death of a 46-year-old police officer who was being held in custody while facing several serious criminal charges.
Humbulani Tshabuse, a police officer who had previously been stationed in Gauteng, was found hanging in a cell at the Thohoyandou Correctional Centre on Saturday morning, 4 July. His death has raised fresh questions as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident get under way.
According to information, police were alerted to the incident at about 09:30 by correctional services officials after Tshabuse was discovered hanging from the cell bars with a blanket tied around his neck. He was declared dead at the scene by Emergency Medical Services personnel.
Vhembe police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened following the death in custody.
Tshabuse, who had reportedly returned to Limpopo after serving as a police officer in Gauteng, was in custody while appearing in court on several serious charges. Dathi said he was facing charges including attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH). It is also alleged that he had other outstanding criminal matters linked to Gauteng.
His sudden death has shocked residents of Dzingahe, where many knew him as both a member of the community and a police officer.
His body was transported to the local government mortuary, where a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. As required when a person dies in police or correctional custody, the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which has launched an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.