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A senior police officer should be investigated for allegedly threatening an elderly woman, a pregnant woman, and several Cape Town residents in the Muizenberg area who were arrested for suspected confinement offenses, saying, “I hope they will contract the virus.”
The old woman was doubly traumatized that the officer was not wearing a protective mask when he released his alleged message, just inches from her face.
In addition, the station’s SAPS officials have been self-isolated by the police administration after possible contact with a positive Covid-19 case.
These are some of the allegations directed at the police in Muizenberg, Cape Town, by an elderly woman arrested 15 minutes after the “exercise window” ended, a few hundred meters from her home.
The woman is 62 years old and tried to tell police that she was late home because she had slowed down due to a knee injury.
Instead, he endured a terrible seven-hour experience at a police station.
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It allegedly took place at the same police station that has been criticized for being “overly enthusiastic” and not using “logic or common sense” in some cases, by its provincial police commissioner, Lt. Gen. Yolisa Matakata.
The comments of the provincial police commissioner refer to the arrest of a mother and father who ran to the beach to look for their son, and were arrested for violating the “confinement” regulations.
The 62-year-old woman had been with her 20-year-old son last Tuesday when they were arrested.
The couple has spoken of their trauma, asking that their names be kept confidential until authorities investigate their case.
They had been walking in Muizenberg, near the fresh water, during the “exercise window” from 06:00 to 09:00.
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The woman said she had a knee injury, which had slowed her gait, and underestimated the time it would take to return home. As a result, she and her son had approached their home around 09:15.
There, they encountered the police, who arrested them, put them in a police vehicle, and took them to the Muizenberg SAPS police station.
There, they were joined by several more arrested people. Among them was the “ocean protester,” who was arrested for “standing still” during the exercise window, captured by News24 in a video that has since gone viral.
Among the complaints of the old woman and her son are:
– A police officer mistreated the son without cause;
– A police officer hit the woman’s foot in the door of a car;
– A senior officer leaned toward the woman’s face and said, “I hope the virus will spread to you,” just inches from her face, without him wearing a mask himself. He verbally abused the couple and other arrested citizens, saying he hoped they were infected with the coronavirus and “learned their lesson”;
– Police fingerprints arrested residents without wearing gloves or disinfecting their hands, to prevent possible transmission;
– A pregnant woman was detained at the police station for seven hours, in the company of an alleged drug addict, “coughing and sneezing without a mask”, “which put us all under more stress and risk”; and,
– The police allegedly threatened the couple with detention for 48 hours, behind bars, unless they signed guilty pleas of R1,000 each.
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After signing, they claim under duress, the couple was released seven hours after their arrest. The couple has described the entire ordeal as a serious affront to their dignity.
The couple’s description of what happened was relayed to a doctor, who treated the couple later, when the son was treated for trauma suffered by the police.
News24 knows the identity of the senior police officer in question, against whom several of the allegations have been made specifically.
The incident has been reported to the President of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament Ad-Hoc Committee on Covid-19, Mireille Wenger, who has agreed to forward the complaint to the relevant SAPS oversight bodies.
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On the day after his ordeal, on Wednesday, Matakata told the committee that the police had been “too enthusiastic” in arresting Liam Bulgen and Tereza Cervinkova, of Muizenberg, who were arrested for running to the beach to find their daughter. 21 months. Florence, who had run toward the arena.
The senior police officer further said that it was not acceptable that SAPS officials had not worn masks or protective gloves when arresting and transporting the young family.
Similarly, the 62-year-old woman and her 20-year-old son told News24 that the police had not worn protective equipment during their own experience.
In a subsequent turn, the Muizenberg police station was closed, after possible exposure to a Covid-19 case. Since then, police officers have been sent home to undergo quarantine.
Wenger told News24 that he was aware of the alleged incident and said, “I have been contacted by concerned residents about some very troubling complaints and allegations of police misconduct and a heavy hand. These should be investigated by impartial oversight agencies as soon as possible.” ”
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In response to the allegations, the provincial police commissioner’s office told News24 Sunday night that a senior official had been immediately appointed to investigate the allegations.
“SAPS has noted with concern the allegations made by Muizenberg residents that you interviewed a SAPS member. The allegations are viewed by SAPS management from a serious perspective,” wrote Brigadier Novela Potelwa.
“Firstly, SAPS, as a law enforcement agency, is governed by prescriptions and directives in terms of the execution of its mandate. On this basis, the claims made against the senior police officer, mentioned in media research. In a serious light.
“If proven to be true, the allegations would violate the SAPS code of conduct and internal directives governing the conduct of police officers. Given the seriousness of the allegations, his investigation has led to the institution of an investigation. internal on the allegations made.
“The Western Cape provincial commissioner, Lt. Gen. Matakata, has appointed a high-ranking police officer to investigate the matter. Once the investigation is complete, the result will be released.
“As the SAPS Western Cape, we wish to reiterate our commitment to serve all communities fairly and with dignity, even during this period of Covid-19 restrictions,” said Brigadier.
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