Seven detectives acquitted of assault

Seven detectives of the Barberton Police Station were found not guilty on charges of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Sakhile Mashaba, Bheki Nkosi, Sizwe Mlambo, Zweli Mahlalela, Sakhile Mnisi and Mthobisi Ngwenyama appeared before Magistrate Lindiwe Vukeya in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Unfortunately one of their colleagues, Gaga Limane, has since passed away. The verdict came almost four years after the alleged assault on September 11, 2010. Melusi Mahlalela had opened the case after allegedly being assaulted by the detectives. At the time he had been detained for allegedly committing a robbery using an illegal firearm. The case against him is still pending.

Melusi is also suing the minister of safety and security for R300 000 for the alleged assault that was inflicted to him. During the proceedings in court, it emerged that Melusi’s claims that after the assault, he had to spend a month and a half at Barberton General Hospital, were untrue.

A doctor who testified revealed that he spent less than a week at the hospital and that he was not discharged but ran away.

One of the detectives, Nkosi, said he was relieved about the outcome. “People must learn from this case that they won’t just commit crimes and then try to frame police. In this particular case, Melusi was trying to make a bad name for the detectives and solicit state funds by suing government,” he said.