Ons lesers skryf – Preserved to serve?

I am writing this letter to voice my grievance against Thabazimbi Police. On 28 January 2010 at around 17:30 at the corner of 13th Avenue and Frikkie Meyer Street, I witnessed six police officers beating the daylights out of a young man who had innocently come to inquire from them why they were giving his father a ticket.

As a concerned citizen, I took pictures of them with my cell phone to present it to the Station Commander for investigation of police brutality to the community. Having taken the pictures I drove home whereupon the six police officers followed me. On arriving at home the six police officers approached me and started harassing me and pushing me around. I was handcuffed and thrown into the Toyota Condor they were driving. My mother pleaded with them to treat me like a human being and gave me a change to lock my bakkie upon which a lady constable (name known to Die Kwêvoël) told my mother to mind her own business and that I was full of shit and wanted to teach me a lesson, she even went further as to say it was the ANC which was responsible for us rubbishing the police. They drove around town with me during which time I was subject to verbal abuse. The very same lady constable swore at me twice calling me private parts, twice to be exact.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, I was locked in a cell overnight and charged with interfering with police duties. What interference? The following day I was fined R300 to secure my release. After paying the fine I approached the station commander for clarity and he promised he would call the police constable and try to resolve the matter. On Monday 1 February 2010 I went to the police station for a follow-up with the station commander. I was told the police constable in question was not available.

On Tuesday 2 February 2010, I went to the police station to open a case against the police constable in question and I was sent from pillar to pest, when eventually I was referred to a young white lady constable who took the details. I doubt whether this case will proceed any further as I was not given a case number or date of court appearance. Just when we thought the police bully boys had disappeared with “apartheid”, now this. My only sin was to expose the atrocities perpetrated by police against the community they are preserved to serve. These brutal actions by the police against innocent community members must be condemned with contempt they deserve.

Abednego Moselane – Thabazimbi