Free State – The Ficksburg Regional Court on Thursday acquitted all seven policemen accused of the death of local protester Andries Tatane.

Regional Magistrate Hein van Niekerk found the State could not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Tatane died on April 13, 2011, after police used rubber bullets and batons to subdue him during a service delivery protest in Ficksburg.

The case received huge media attention after footage of Tatane’s alleged assault by police members was broadcast nationally. – Sapa