A Zimbabwean man will lay a charge of assault against the metro police after one of its officers allegedly beat him up.
The 29-year-old Birchleigh resident said he was also kept in a police holding cell overnight without any case being opened against him, and only taken to a hospital the next day.
The man, who has been living with his family in South Africa since 2006, asked to remain anonymous as he is still traumatised and in fear for his life following the incident.
Still clearly shaken and in severe pain, he spoke to EXPRESS at our offices on June 30 about how the saga unfolded.
“I was driving home on the night of June 27 with my younger brother in the car when two metro police officers, a man and a woman, stopped me and asked for my driver’s licence, which I provided. They asked me if I had been drinking, which I admitted to doing but assured them I was going straight home,” he explained.
The cops allegedly told him they would arrest him. When the man asked what would happen to his car, he was allegedly told his brother could drive it home.
“I told them my brother (24) did not have a licence. They said it was fine, they would give him permission to drive without a licence just this one time,” he said.
They put the victim in the back of their car and drove towards Tembisa.
“I asked where they were taking me, as I was supposed to go to Kempton Police Station. They said I talked too much and the woman slapped me. They took me to a place somewhere in Tembisa and said they would take my blood,” he said.
After questioning why his blood sample was being taken, he was allegedly handcuffed to a chair and the male officer started beating him.
“He pulled me all over the place, beating me. I was falling all over the place. He picked up a spade and hit me on the back of my head, which knocked me out. I don’t know for how long I was out but I woke up later with a wound on my lower abdomen,” he said.
In the video, the victim shows EXPRESS his injuries, which includes another wound to the inner side of his right calf, a scratch on his left cheek, as well as his right arm, which had already been put in plaster.
He was apparently taken to a police station in Tembisa where he was kept in a cell overnight. The next day, Sunday June 28, he was escorted by police to Tembisa Hospital, where he was treated for a few days and discharged on Tuesday, June 30.
“On Tuesday, they (policemen) fetched me and took me to Kempton Magistrate’s Court, where they dropped my charges.”
Although he doesn’t know the officers’ names, he said he recognised the male officer as he had seen him around Kempton Park a couple of times.
“He is a ‘madala’ (old man) sort-of, about 50-60 years old, short, medium-built with a dark in complexion. He has short hair and speaks Sepedi. The woman was also speaking Sepedi. She is very light in complexion and big in size,” he said.
They were apparently driving a double cab metro police car, marked Edleen.
EXPRESS contacted EMPD spokesperson, Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, who said an investigation would be launched.
On Friday, the victim went to the Tembisa station to open an assault case but was referred to Kempton Police. He said he would try again on Monday.
In the meantime, spokesperson for Kempton Police, Capt Jethro Mtshali, acting on behalf of Tembisa SAPS communications officer, Capt Manyadza Ralidzivha, said the victim should first open a case in Tembisa so investigations could ensue.
“I would also suggest the victim personally approaches the station commander, Brig Johan Jacobs, regarding this matter. If he is refused help for any reason, the victim should make sure he gets the name of the police officer who didn’t help, so the matter can be followed up accordingly,” Mtshali recommended.
Watch the video clip on www.kemptonexpress.co.za.
