Probe ensues on why cops did not arrest suspects damaging victims’ car outside Pretoria shopping centre

An internal investigation has begun on why police officers did not arrest two suspects insulting a 30-year-old man and smashing his car with bricks outside a shopping centre in the east of Pretoria.

This according to police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili.

A video of two suspects insulting a man and damaging his car with bricks during the early hours of December 11 at Willow Way Shopping Centre trended on social media early this week.

Garsfontein police received a complaint of assault just after midnight on Sunday and went to the scene – just a few minutes away from the police station, Muridili said.

“Upon arrival, they found the victim, a 30-year old man and two suspects on the scene allegedly still continuing with their act of criminality,” she said.

Despite this the police did not make an arrest on the scene even though they found the two men smashing the victim’s car with bricks.

“A recorded mobile video of the incident has since surfaced on social media and the provincial commissioner [Lieutenant General Elias Mawela] would like to assure the public that the case is receiving the necessary attention,” Muridili said.

“The provincial commissioner has instructed that an internal investigation be conducted on the allegations that the members who attended the crime scene failed to act while the crime was being committed in their presence.”

Video believed to be of two men outside Willow Way Shopping Centre damaging a victim’s car on the early hours of Sunday. Video/Facebook Gordon James

WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE

Muridili said the victim was not able to give a formal statement to police on the scene and arranged to go to the station later that day.

“The police also arranged for the victim’s brother to come collect him. Other supporting statements and the necessary video footage were collected and registered as evidence.”

She said the police arrested the first suspect, a 42-year-old man, later on Sunday for assault grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.

The second suspect, a 43-year-old, was arrested on Monday in the north of Pretoria.

Both of the suspects were expected to appear at the Hatfield magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

While people on social media speculated that the attack on the 30-year-old was a result of a racial tension, Muridili said investigations were yet to determine the motive, adding that the “victim was not severely injured”.

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