KANYAMAZANE – Nobuntu Khoza alleges to have been beaten by police officers at the local station for allegedly speaking English in their presence.
She said it all began when they were changing cars at the garage, and her brother-in-law opened the can of beer he was holding.
“The police came and said they were going to arrest him for public drinking.
We tried to convince them that we were not walking around and drinking beer, we were just changing cars, and my husband wasn’t the one driving,” said Bathabile Khoza, Nobuntu’s sister.
“They took my husband to the police station, and when my sister tried reasoning with them, they arrested her, because apparently she acted like a ‘miss know it all’ and her greatest sin was speaking to them in English,” added Bathabile.
The police allegedly freed the brother in-law and went on to arrest Nobuntu because they wanted to “show her”.
“They arrested my sister and beat her up all night in the cell, they even told her that they would make sure she stayed there all weekend, and as this ordeal occurred on Friday, that was exactly what happened.
When my sister was released on Monday, they refused to open a case,” she said.
According to Bathabile, there was such a racket in the station on Friday night, that the officers called another colleague to connive against her sister and to ensure that she spends the weekend in jail.
“A constable, who was off duty on the night, was called to tend to my sister. He came and screamed at her as well.
After ganging up against my sister, none of them wanted to help us as they refused to open a case against one of their own.
A certain policeman insulted us and told us we could report him as nothing would happen to him.
The insults hurled at us for standing up for our rights, by the very same people who were supposed to be protecting us, were shocking. ”
Acting station commander for the station, Capt Hendry Sithole, said he was aware of the matter and willing to help the complainants in question.
“No one is above the law, it is illegal for a police officer to refuse to assist people in instances like this one.
I’m also of the view that the matter was reported to IPID, and an investigation is underway,” he said.
