South Africa police charged with murder over dragging death of Mozambican taxi driver

Eight South African police officers were charged with murder on Friday for the death of a Mozambican taxi driver who was dragged hundreds of meters handcuffed to a police van for parking in the wrong spot.

Mido Macia, 27, died of head injuries and internal bleeding after he was taken to the Daveyton police station, east of Johannesburg, on Tuesday, the BBC reported.

The shocking police brutality was videotaped by horrified onlookers and has sparked international outrage, the Associated Press reported.

Earlier Friday, Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said the officers had been disarmed and suspended over the "callous and unacceptable behaviour," Agence France-Presse reported.

South African President Jacob Zuma was quoted as saying the incident was "horrific, disturbing and unacceptable."

The group will appear in the Daveyton Magistrate's Court on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported. 

Official figures show the number of police-related deaths totaled 797 in 2012, more than double levels from a decade ago, the WSJ said.

More from GlobalPost: South Africa: Police say 34 dead in Lonmin Marikana mine shooting

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