SIBUSISO Yende was arrested for shoplifting on 1 August.
He was taken to Daveyton Police Station in Ekurhuleni, but he apparently died in police cells on the same day.
But his family only got to know about his death two weeks later.
The angry family has accused the police of negligence.
“They tell us he was killed by a cell mate, who is mentally unstable and they were not aware when they put that man in the cell with Sibusiso,” said his aunt, Sizakele (40).
“The police informed us of his death two weeks later.
“This makes us suspect they know what happened to Sibusiso.”
Sizakele said they were informed by the government mortuary that Sibusiso died on 1 August, while the police kept this information hidden.
“The government mortuary officials told us they were called to collect the body from the cells, but the police didn’t tell us anything. We don’t know what they’re hiding,” she said.
Sizakele said they received information from Sibusiso’s friends that he was arrested after he stole a bottle of cooking oil from a supermarket at Mayfield Mall in Daveyton.
Colonel Noxolo Kweza of the Gauteng police said the suspect who killed Sibusiso was initially in custody for attempted murder.
Kweza said after killing Sibusiso, a murder charge was added on his charge.
The matter is now being investigated by the police.
