Ms Methula alleges bad treatment
Ms Mary Methula alleges that she was arrested by the Witbank Police instead of a suspect who has damaged their house.
Ms Methula said she was in a house in Old Coronation with her sister when a neighbour accused them of throwing rotten things in his yard. This incident happened on Wednesday, January 15.
After they confronted the neighbour, he came back breaking windows and a door to her sister’s house and a fight broke out between them.
Ms Methula said they contacted the police who came to the scene of the crime at about 10:00. They said they told the cops what had happened and the police allegedly told them they would only open a case after the suspect was found. Ms Methula said instead of this happening, on Thursday, January 16, she and her sister were allegedly arrested by the police.
She said they were taken to the police station and were booked and Ms Methula had her one-year-old child with her and they were all booked in a cell.
She said she was not allowed to go and fetch nappies for her child and the child did not have food until the following day.
She said they went to court the following day and the case was dropped in court.
Captain Eddie Hall confirmed that the police opened a case of malicious damage to property against the neighbour and was arrested.
Captain Hall confirmed that police do provide food for children and nappies unless the child is breastfed. That police have a responsibility to investigate cases, not to judge suspects as that is the work of the court. He added to say that if people are not satisfied about police conduct, they are free to contact the station or the station commander.
