The Mamelodi West CPF has denied claims it was helping the police cover up for one of their own.
The local ANC branch had alleged that the CPF and the police were blocking its effort to find out why the case against the police officer who allegedly assaulted resident Sophie Masilela was delayed.
The locals, local councillor and alleged victim’s son Jabulani Masilela and his ANC branch executive, said they had called a meeting between the CPF, the police and the victim but this meeting had been postponed numerous times.
But a CPF spokesperson charged that the meeting had in fact been postponed by the ANC “in writing”.
Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso said disciplinary proceedings against the officer had already begun.
“The Independent Police Investigative Directorate [police watchdog] is also busy with the criminal investigation,” he said.
“Let me make this clear, the police gave Sophie Masilela feedback telephonically and she has confirmed this.”
Masilela (57) said she and other residents had clashed with a man believed to be involved in the illegal sale of his family home last year.
Masilela said the man had singled her out and punched her in the face and she fought back.
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“Then on 30 November I went to the open a case of assault at the police station, but an officer told me to leave my contact details instead.
“On my way home, I realised I had not taken the name of the officer so I went back. When I got there, I saw my attacker talking to the officer. He started shouting for the officers to arrest me.”
She said another officer then pounced on her, accusing her of being drunk.
“He held me in a chokehold until I passed out. When I regained consciousness, he still had me pinned down and I had this excruciating pain in my shoulder.”
She said she later learned she had fractured her shoulder bone.
She claimed she had not heard from the police since.
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Locals had since joined forces with Masilela, picketing and marching to the police station to demand “justice”.
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