Modise condemns police brutality

Friday, March 15, 2013

Pretoria – North West Premier Thandi Modise has condemned the latest incident of police brutality after an officer from Lomanyaneng police station, near Mahikeng, allegedly grabbed a complainant by the neck and dragged him behind a state vehicle for about 100 metres.

“Though everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, incidents of police brutality and violence unleashed on citizens by members of the police service have the potential to antagonise communities against the police and should be stemmed out before it’s too late,” she said. 

The premier called on police officials who were committed to upholding the rights of citizens and the pledge to serve and protect communities to blow the whistle on the “few rotten potatoes” who were giving the police service a bad name.

The complainant had, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), advised a boy whom he purportedly saw police harassing while on his way to a tuck shop at around 20:30pm in Setlopo village.

After the police had finished talking to the boy, the complainant had called the boy to advise him about what to do should he feel that he was treated badly by the police.  

The victim, who happens to be a court interpreter at Molopo Magistrate’s Court, sustained injuries to his feet during the incident and was taken to hospital by his neighbour.

It is alleged that the sergeant had allegedly asked him (the victim) if he knew what police were capable of these days.

Police provincial spokesperson, Brigadier Thulani Ngubane, said a case of assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm has been opened against the 37-year-old sergeant.

Ngubane said the police officer who was on duty in full police uniform and driving a marked state vehicle was arrested on Wednesday and will appear before the Mmabatho Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

“Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo, after receiving the report, took the matter very seriously and instituted departmental steps with immediate effect.

“This led to the immediate suspension of the member from his official duties, pending the departmental investigation.

“This has to do with the member’s breach of code of conduct of the police, which is applicable to all members of the South African Police Service,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za