Rietgat police in Shoshanguve, Pretoria have pleaded with the community to be honest in their interactions with the law after the precinct noticed a sharp rise in assault cases that are later withdrawn.

Spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka says they believe that people who are not true victims of assault, open cases to extort money from their alleged perpetrators and then withdraw the cases in court after being paid.

“As things stand, the station opened over 160 cases of common assault from October to December last year.”

He says after the police have spent time and resources investigating, the victims withdrew the cases in court.

“This meteoric rise in the common assault offences and their withdrawal are a clear indication that some in the community were quick to open cases, then rush to court to withdraw them after financially benefiting from the alleged suspects.

“It is worrisome that there are members of the public who are willing to vilify others by alleging assault,” says Maluleka.

Maluleka says common assault was the unlawful and intentional direct or indirect application of force to the body of another person, or threat of violence against another.

He says the police were concerned about the moral fibre of the people they serve and protect if their suspicions were true.

“We urge and encourage our community to do the right thing and avoid being on the wrong side of the law.”