Boksburg North officers back in court on February 10

The case against four Boksburg North police officers accused of attempted murder, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice will resume in the Vosloorus Magistrate’s Court on February 10.

Constables Sakhile Mathaba, Mlondolozi Khalipha and Nkateko Hlogwane and Sergeant Sibusiso Shabangu made their second appearance in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on February 7, where the matter was postponed for formal bail applications.

This came after six police officers from the station were arrested at work on February 1 by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in connection with two separate incidents.

According to the IPID Spokesperson Lizzy Suping, the four were initially charged with assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice.

They are accused of assaulting and torturing a Nigerian man into a coma on January 9.

Suping stated that the victim and his friends were approached by police officers who demanded to see their identity documents.

When the victim could not produce an original copy of the documentation, he was taken to the police station and allegedly assaulted and tortured by the officers.

“The victim was taken to hospital for medical attention and was in a coma for nine days,” explained Suping.

Two other police officers were arrested for an unrelated incident involving the theft of cables from a Boksburg North scrapyard and were granted R3 000 bail each.

They appeared in court on February 2. The matter was postponed to February 3, then February 9.

They face charges of copper theft, defeating the ends of justice and common robbery.

The officers allegedly forced their way into the premises and robbed the owner of the cables.

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