Lentswe, Jouberton - An employee of the municipality is shocked after he was allegedly beaten up by the police when he went to the local police station to enquire about the well-being of his teenage son who was arrested. Now he wants justice...
Daniel Mmane (52) and his son both appeared in the magistrate’s court in Klerksdorp on Thursday October 19. Both spent two nights in the holding cell at the police station before their appearance.
Daniel went to station on October 17, after his son, Keorapetse (19), was arrested for carrying a dangerous weapon. He was, in fact, carrying a table knife. His case was thrown out of court and he was released. Daniel had a very tough experience and it is not over yet.
The upset father told Lentswe he was attacked by police members at the police station after he went to enquire about his son’s arrest. He said he was told that he was asking too many questions.
“They hit me in the face, kicked me and sprayed me with pepper spray - all while my son was watching.
“They took my cellphone and I was put in the cell with druggies smoking all different kinds of drugs. I spent two nights in the cell before appearing in court. My son was in the cell with me,” he described his terrible ordeal.
According to him, he was denied a call to his supervisor, lawyer or doctor and is shocked about the appalling conditions in the police cells, with no working toilets.
Daniel appeared in court on charges of assault and obstruction of police business. In return he opened a case against the police officers for unlawful arrest, assault and theft, as they didn’t return his cellphone to him. He has a doctor’s report of his injuries, all internal.
He was released on bail of R300 and has to appear in court again on November 13.
Col Adele Myburgh, police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said the case was referred to IPID for further investigation due to the allegations against the police members.
