A Centurion informal waste-picker who is also a money-lender, has claimed the police stole his money after he was arrested.
Ananeas Tsamela (49) originally from Lesotho, was arrested on a charge of “dealing in drugs” last Monday morning.
The arrest was made, according to Tsamela, by two Lyttelton police officers at 02:00.
“My girlfriend and I were sleeping in my shack when they entered, shining a torch in my face,” Tsamela said.
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“They started searching the shack and found a handful of marijuana.
“They accused me of drug dealing but I told them I didn’t deal it, I only smoked it myself.”
Tsamela, who is also a money-lender, claimed the police took R16 000 from his wallet and the marijuana.
He claimed the police told him they had found only R1 200.
“My girlfriend and I asked them to count the money in front of us but they refused,” he said.
“Instead they insulted us and threatened to slap my girlfriend.”
Tsamela claimed he was taken to the Sunnyside police station but “unceremoniously let go” the next day ahead of his appearance in the Pretoria magistrate’s court.
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Lyttelton police spokesperson Captain Dave Miller said the reason for Tsamela’s release could only be established once the docket returned from court.
“I can confirm he was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs,” said Miller.
He said the police found drugs and money on Tsamela but could not confirm the amount at this stage.
“A case of theft has been opened at the Lyttelton police station and is being investigated.”
He said the matter would be investigated internally and allocated to “a member who is authorised to investigate policemen”.
A group of waste-pickers in Centurion living at a so-called sorting station in West Avenue, have claimed authorities were making their lives difficult.
The informal recyclers, also known as Bagerezi, said they were living in fear of eviction from their spot near SuperSport Park.
Bagerezi representative Stefan van der Westhuizen said those living at the station were in fear of the authorities.
He said those who were not South African citizens felt they were being “especially targeted”.
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