WATCH: Enough! Edenvale residents and politicians protest against police brutality

"The police need to understand the anger of the community” - Mike Waters.

October 5, 2018

Stephan Lehman 3 minutes read

Ward 17 Clr and march organiser Simon Lapping.

Community members and politicians took to the streets to highlight and stop the alleged police brutality in Edenvale’s policing precinct.

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The Enough is Enough march was held on September 29 and saw approximately 30 demonstrators take part.
Ward councillors Simon Lapping (Ward 17) and Tracey Lourenco (Ward 104), as well as community members Kim Smith and Samantha Nieuwoudt, took part in the march.
The march came after the four were accused of assaulting Edenvale police officers on August 10.

Demonstrators who took part in the Enough is Enough march held on September 29 stand near the entrance to Edenvale Police Station with their banner. The march was held to highlight and stop alleged police brutality. Edenvale station commander Col Sudesh Sookraj and Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lt Col Lungelo Dlamini can be seen to the right.

They have since appeared in Edenvale Magistrate’s Court twice and will appear again on October 18.

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Lapping, Lourenco, Smith and Nieuwoudt brought counter-charges against the police and lodged complaints with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The march started at Horwood’s Farm and ended at Edenvale Police Station.
Despite support from members of the community, Edenvale Community Police Forum (ECPF) did not attend the march.

ECPF executive member Nadia Atkinson said the CPF did not participate, because the march had links to a political party.
“The ECPF is a mediator between the police and community. People need to use the relevant channels to raise their concerns. The ECPF supports the police,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson has since added, “As a CPF we did not take part in the march as we are an apolitical forum which needs to follow its own constitution. We support the police, but we do not condone corruption, bribery and police brutality.”

Also read: EXCLUSIVE: Edenvale CPF chairperson accused of bribery, abuse of position and defamation

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“I am very happy with how the march went and that we were able to present the memo,” said march organiser Lapping.

Requests made in the memorandum and handed over to station commander Col Sudesh Sookraj included:
• An audit of Edenvale police officers’ lifestyles and qualifications.
• Officers to undergo community and customer care training.
• To remove officers who have convictions from the station.
Lapping said the march was the first step in the process of holding the police accountable.
“I believe that Edenvale Police Station has been neglected for far too long, and as a result the community has been neglected.”

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Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lt Col Lungelo Dlamini said the police would look into the allegations made by the community.
“The allegations are generalised, but the memorandum will be handed to the police commissioner for consideration.”

Dlamini welcomed the community members’ right to demonstrate, but encouraged them to work with an established structure such as the CPF to raise their concerns.
Member of Parliament Mike Waters hoped the march would remove rogue elements from the station.
“I hope the matter was taken seriously. The police need to understand the anger of the community.”