Partygoers accuse Edenvale SAPS of police brutality
This is the second allegation of police brutality ...show more
Partygoers were pepper sprayed, arrested and thrown around and they say they do not know why.
16 March 2012 | Charmaine Slater
The Edenvale SAPS has confirmed that two cases have since been opened against the SAPS following allegations of police brutality.
According to Illiondale residents, Osorio da Silva and Raven Slater, they were hosting a birthday braai at their complex unit on Saturday when police officers forced entry into their property, assaulted their guests and took their sound system.
“We had somewhere between 15 and 20 people at our house. At around 7.30pm a police vehicle arrived at our house and demanded to see the owners of the unit,” Ms Slater said.
She added that she and Mr Da Silva then went outside to talk to the officers, who told them that they will be taking the sound system.
“When I asked why, one of the officers retaliated and said that he was coming in and he will take the sound system,” Mr Da Silva said.
“He was literally standing nose to nose with me and he then tried to force his way onto the property,” he said.
“We were so scared that we closed the gate before the officers could get in the yard and we went inside again,” Ms Slater said.
She added that several minutes later a number of additional SAPS vehicles arrived at the complex unit.
“Police officers started jumping over the walls and gate to get into the property. I immediately opened the gate and let them in,” Ms Slater said.
“When they came into the house they started pushing people out of the way and ripping speakers out of the sound system. It all happened so quickly,” Mr Da Silva said.
One of the partygoers, who was asleep on the couch when the police officers entered the premises, was woken up when someone was pushed on top of him.
Mr Nicholis Lotis said that he immediately jumped up and saw what was happening.
“A police officer pushed me to the ground and then there were like six officers on top of me,” Mr Lotis said.
He added that he was handcuffed and assaulted before being taken outside and pepper sprayed.
“Some of our friends were filming the incident on their cellular phones and they were also arrested,” Ms Slater said.
“When I asked why the officers were doing this, they just got more angry. I also asked which police station the officers were from and they got even more angry,” Ms Slater said.
At the police station those arrested for filming the incident were forced to delete the footage and told, “that the officers could get into trouble”.
“I was told I needed to pay R300 to be released,” Mr Lotis said.
Acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, confirmed that two cases had been opened with the Edenvale SAPS.
“One of the cases relates to malicious damage to property while the other is for assault,” Lt Col Roberts said.
He added that the R300 paid by Mr Lotis was an admission of guilt fine for being drunk and disorderly and that the SAPS were in possession of the paperwork for the fine.
“Police officers received a complaint for disturbance of the peace and reacted to it,” Lt Col Roberts said.
According to him the party goers were warned to turn the music down.
“When officers arrived they were refused entrance to the property. All the party goers were under the influence of alcohol, some were even threatening police officers,” Lt Col Roberts said.
Related articles:
http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/bedfordview-edenvale/bedfordview-edenvale-news-general?oid=5232628&sn=Detail&pid=217413&Partygoers-accuse-Edenvale-SAPS-of-police-brutality
