Officer tells his side of assault story
An SANDF captain has laid charges of assault against two men after an altercation at a local estate left him with multiple fractures to his face.
Capt Steve Strumpher (60), who works as a professional nurse at a nearby military hospital, was taken to hospital following the altercation.
He had surgery to his face and an eye. He initially thought he may lose his eye, however, it appears that this may not be the case.
Strumpher, who lives at Golfview Estate, said the incident occurred on the evening of September 16, just outside the gates of the estate.
“I was in bed with my wife at around 23:00 when I heard people fighting outside the estate,” said Strumpher, whose window overlooks the entrance to Golfview.
“I called the security guards at the front to call police or the estate’s caretaker to break it up, but two hours later no one had been called.”
The incident happened outside the estate and was therefore not within the estate’s jurisdiction. He said he then put on his military hat and jacket as well as his SANDF identification and went to confront two men who he said had been fighting with a third person earlier that evening.
CCTV at the estate captured some of the altercation, however, the assault on Strumpher was out of view of the camera.
The footage, which has been seen by Lowvelder, shows Strumpher walking to the boom gate at the entrance, approaching two young men while pointing his finger at them.
Strumpher can be seen standing close to the two men, with his finger wagging near their faces as he addresses them. He then drops his keys as he is confronting the men, however, as he stands up he is seen spraying pepper spray in both the men’s eyes.
One of the men walks away and Strumpher follows, while the second man continues to stand at the boom gate with his arms folded, saying something briefly to one of the security guards.
Strumpher then comes back in view of the camera and appears to take a moment to breathe before talking to security guards in what appears to be a heated manner.
All of a sudden the other man, who disappeared from the CCTV frame, reappears with his own pepper spray and directs it into Strumpher’s eyes. The man then tries to walk away with Strumpher and the second man following him. This is where the footage ends.
Strumpher said following this, the second man ran up and punched him in the back, causing him to fall to the ground. This could however not be seen on the footage. He alleged the man climbed on top of him and punched him in the head, thrice.
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He then went to the police station to open a case and then went to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Police confirmed that a case was opened.
“It was a night of complete horror. My wife and I have been traumatised by it and we are moving back to Pretoria as soon as we can.”
Golfview Estate allowed Lowvelder to view the CCTV footage but said it had no comment.
Both men’s identities are know to this publication, but cannot be made public as they are yet to appear in court. Lowvelder managed to contact one of the men. He declined to comment, citing advise from his attorney not to speak to the media.
Various attempts to get comment from the other were in vain. Strumpher said he would be taking the matter seriously and said he was disappointed and saddened that two young men would assault an older man.
