By Helga van Staaden
Source: The Herald Online
A PROMINENT Swartkops businessman was allegedly assaulted by two policemen dressed in civilian clothes last night....
Businessman DawieGrundlingh
Swartkops businessman ‘pulled from car, assaulted by police’
By Helga van Staaden
A PROMINENT Swartkops businessman was allegedly assaulted by two policemen dressed in civilian clothes last night.
Speaking from the St George’s Hospital late last night, Dawie Grundlingh, 43, the owner of several businesses in the Swartkops area including the Swartkops Yacht Club, was still traumatised by the incident.
Mr Grundlingh said he was involved in a minor accident around 8pm and on his way to the Swartkops police station to report it when a car swerved in front of him on the Swartkops bridge, causing him to stop.
He later noticed a police van behind the car.
Mr Grundlingh said the two men, dressed in civilian clothing, pulled him out of his car and started assaulting him. He said a third, unidentified, man was also involved in the assault.
“The two men did not identify themselves. They just asked me where I was going. I explained that I was on my way to the Swartkops police station to report the accident. They just pulled me from my vehicle and started assaulting me.
“They threw me down on the ground and kicked me in the side multiple times before they dragged me on the tar road,” said a traumatised Mr Grundlingh.
Mr Grundlingh, who suffers from a number of ailments, including asthma, said he lost consciousness while one of the men throttled him.
They then threw him in the back of the police van and drove him at high speed to the police station. Because of the commotion on the bridge, traffic came to a standstill.
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Once at the police station, Mr Grundlingh phoned his lawyer, Hans Bester, who said last night he could not understand why the policemen took Mr Grundlingh to the police station if they never laid any charges against him.
“On my arrival at the police station, the policemen could not answer any of my questions and just said my client would not be charged with anything,” Mr Bester said.
Still in pain last night, Mr Grundlingh said he opened a case of assault against the two policemen and the unidentified man.
He was apparently urinating blood and would have to undergo further tests today.
Ironically, Mr Grundlingh is one of the sponsors who make a monthly contribution to the police station to ensure that regular safety patrols are held.
Police spokesman Inspector Thembi Gwe last night confirmed that the two policemen were from the KwaDwesi police station and that a case of assault was opened against them by Mr Grundlingh. She said the case would be investigated.
Mr Grundlingh urged anyone who witnessed the assault to contact the police station
