Crimes of the South African Police Service

Woman plans charges against Phiyega over police brutality

The victim says she was arrested and tortured by officers who accused her of being drunk.

Lana Stander claims she was assaulted at a Johannesburg police station on 14 February 2015. Picture: VumaniMkhize/EWN

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/18/Zuma-Saps-under-fire-for-police-brutality-incidents

DineoBendile

JOHANNESBURG - A Randburg woman has told Eyewitness News she will be laying criminal charges against National Police Commissioner RiahPhiyega and her office after she was assaulted, allegedly by police officers.

In the early hours of Saturday morning Lana Stander was involved in a car crash after suffering an epileptic seizure while driving.

Police accused her of driving under the influence, a claim she denies.

Stander said she was arrested after the crash and tortured by officers who accused her of drunk driving.

She said she was still traumatised following her ordeal.

“I don’t think I can cry right now or ever again. I feel hopeless.”

The 26-year-old, who suffers from chronic epilepsy, said being attacked by police officers has left her feeling victimised because of her illness.

“This illness is too much for me and I am now being punished by the law for having this sickness.”

She said officials who were patrolling the area stopped to inspect the scene and insisted she was drunk because she was still unsteady on her feet following the seizure.

Stander was then allegedly beaten, thrown against a police car and tortured for hours, suffering several more epileptic attacks during that time.

She said her condition has never been a threat to other road users because it’s been medically controlled for years.

The Randburg Police Station says it’s investigating the conduct of the officers involved.

Watch: 'Police beat and tortured me'.

(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/16/Woman-plans-charges-against-Phiyega-over-alleged-police-brutality

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Man sets himself alight at police station

21 January 2015 18:48

A man has died after setting himself alight in a car at the Tlhabane police station, North West.

“Police in Tlhabane are investigating a case of malicious damage to property after a 35-year-old man died when he allegedly attempted to commit suicide by setting fire to his estranged wife’s vehicle yesterday,” Brigadier ThulaniNgubane said today.

The man, who allegedly argued with his estranged wife earlier in the day, followed her to the police station where she wanted to lay a charge of malicious damage to property against him. This was after he threw her cellphone to the floor, damaging it.

“As he arrived at the parking in front of the police station gate, he allegedly poured petrol all over the vehicle he was driving.”

He bumped the car against a police vehicle while trying to park next to it.

The man refused to get out of the car when police officers asked him to, and set it alight.

“Police responded immediately as they were next to the vehicle and rescued the deceased without visible injuries,” said Ngubane.

He refused treatment from paramedics who were called to the scene and was arrested. He started vomiting later in the day and died at the station.

A post mortem would be done to determine the cause of his death. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate would probe the matter.

- Sapa

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/man-sets-alight-police-station/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Man kills wife, himself at police station

6 January 2015 9:48

A man shot his wife dead before killing himself at the Parkview police station in Joburg this morning.

“It is alleged that the victims came to the client service centre in connection with a domestic violence dispute,” Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said.

“While they were busy with the domestic violence forms, the man (47) went out of the client service centre to fetch his reading spectacles. Unknown to the police officers attending to them, he suddenly came back and shot his wife (45) in the upper body.

“While police officers were trying to disarm him, he also shot himself in the upper body. A revolver was used.”

Dlamini said the circumstances surrounding the shooting were being investigated.

“Counselling will also be arranged for the police officers who were attending to the victims at the client service centre.”

- Sapa

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/man-kills-wife-police-station/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Police have ‘a pattern of criminality’, research shows

Abram Mashego@abrammashego28 January 2015 13:33

South African cops are planning and executing serious and violent crimes, new research suggests.

The South African Institute of Race Relations, working with AfriForum, today released a report called Broken Blue Line 2. The police have moved swiftly to distance themselves from the report.

Among Broken Blue Line 2’s key findings are:

» Allegations of police officers being involved in committing serious and violent crime are not just isolated incidents;

» Police criminality doesn’t simply relate to corruption – researchers say there is a “pattern” of organisation;

» In many cases involving perpertrators wearing police uniform, the criminals are not just posing as cops – they are the real thing and are sometimes on duty when committing crimes; and,

» The low conviction rate of implicated officers suggests that police management doesn’t really take the problem seriously.

Reade more….

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/police-pattern-criminality-research-shows/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

DJ sues minister after ‘assault’ by cops

Ngwako Malatji@City_Press9 February 2014 10:00

Lesedi FM’s award-winning presenter ­Nyakallo “Ba2cada” Leine is suing Police ­Minister NathiMthethwa after he was allegedly kicked and punched by two Zamdela police officers.

An employee at the Zamdela police station said that officers had seen the summons that Leine’s lawyers had delivered to the station. “He is suing [the officers] and … Mthethwa. The case is going to be heard in the Bloemfontein High Court sometime next week,” said the employee.

Leine, who was named the best afternoon show presenter at the 2013 MTN Radio Awards, got into a row with police late last year over a traffic fine. The DJ was found guilty in the Sasolburg Magistrates’ Court late last year of interfering with a police officer’s duties and was handed a five-year suspended sentence.

But he is pursuing the case against police because, he claimed, he was beaten up during the argument.

The employee, who did not want to be named as he is not allowed to speak to the media, said Leine was a passenger in a friend’s car when they were stopped by two policemen in the Sasolburg area for reckless driving.

A row erupted between Leine and one of the police officers who was trying to issue a traffic fine to the driver, the employee said. Leine claimed in a complaint to the ­Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) that one officer then pulled him out of the car and asked him why he was interfering.

He claimed that the officers kicked and slapped him before bundling the two men into their vehicle and taking him to the station.

He was detained there for a few hours before he was released without being charged.

Leine confirmed that he had opened a case of assault against the two officers and had filed a lawsuit against them.

“I want to teach them a lesson. If they think they can continue to beat up people and get away with it, then they don’t know what’s coming their way,” he said.

Free State Police spokesperson Superintendent AnnelieWrensch confirmed that Leine had opened a case of common assault and filed a lawsuit against the two Zamdela police officers.

She said: “We can confirm that a case of common assault was opened on September 30 and Ipid is investigating it.

“The police’s legal services department has received intent to institute a civil claim based on the alleged assault, which will be opposed by the SAPS,” she added.

http://www.citypress.co.za/entertainment/dj-sues-minister-assault-cops/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cops attacked by passengers for soliciting bribes

2015-01-11 16:39

(Nielen de Klerk, News24)

Johannesburg - Two Polokwane policemen have been arrested for allegedly soliciting bribes from Zimbabweans, Limpopo police said on Sunday.

They were arrested on Thursday after allegedly demanding payment from Zimbabwean citizens who were travelling into South Africa by bus, said Colonel Ronel Otto.

"It is alleged that they entered the bus and demanded passports from the passengers," said Otto.

The officers allegedly told the passengers that some of their passports were invalid and demanded that everyone on board pay R100 before they could resume their journey.

"While they were busy collecting money, some of the passengers attacked the policemen and they took a belt, shirt and name tag of one of the [policemen]," said Otto.

The policemen then fled.

The bus driver drove to a local police station and reported the incident.

"While there, the two members also arrived. They were pointed out by the passengers in the bus and were arrested," said Otto.

The two are due to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Monday on corruption charges.

- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cops-attacked-by-passengers-for-soliciting-bribes-20150111

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Another metro cop arrested for bribery

2015-01-08 11:04

(Nielen de Klerk, News24)

Video

WATCH: Cop caught on camera asking for bribe

officer has been caught on camera asking for a R200 bribe from a driver who was pulled o

Johannesburg - A 37-year-old Tshwane metro police officer was arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a motorist, the Tshwane metro police department said on Thursday.

Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the officer was arrested in Hammanskraal on Wednesday.

The officer had stopped a car and the driver acknowledged it was not roadworthy.

"The member told him to give him R100 and the motorist later lodged a formal complaint and our member was arrested late yesterday [Wednesday]," he said.

"We are urging members of the public to come forward if our members are involved in corruption. The department applauds members of the public who come forward. When our members insist on a bribe they should report it."

He said the man was expected to appear in a Pretoria court on Thursday. Mahamba said this was the third officer from the department arrested this week. Two officers were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly soliciting a bribe from Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee.

He said the department was worried, but not all officers were corrupt.

"We are worried, we want to render a clean service to the community," he said.

"On the same note we are still saying not all our members ask for bribes and we are warning our members."

Previous incident

On Monday, Abramjee alerted authorities that two metro officers had stopped him for speeding and asked for a bribe to avoid him getting a speeding ticket, Mahamba said at the time. He refused to pay up and the officers let him go.

The two officers were operating a speed trap camera in Centurion. They were not supposed to stop speeding motorists but were meant to take the camera's film back to their office, where fines would be drawn up and sent to the speedsters.

The two officers stopped the speeding investigator tasked to carry out the entrapment. They demanded a R200 bribe from him. They were arrested and charged with corruption and bribery, Mahamba said.

The pair were found with crumpled notes in their pockets.

"One was found with R1200 and other had R710," said Mahamba.

He said they would not hesitate to fire corrupt officials.

"Many officers are doing their best and we know there are a few who are corrupt," he said.

- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Another-metro-cop-arrested-for-bribery-20150108

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Zuma, Saps under fire for police brutality incidents

MasegoRahlaga

JOHANNESBURG – President Jacob Zuma and the South African Police Service (Saps) have come under attack from Democratic Alliance (DA) Members of Parliament (MPs) who blame the African National Congress (ANC) for incidents of police brutality in the country.

In his reply to Zuma’sState of the Nation Address (Sona), the DA’s deputy shadow minister of police, ZakheleMbhele, spoke about two recent cases involving Gauteng police officers.

The one involved RikkyMinyuku, a pregnant woman who told Eyewitness News how she was verbally abused and assaulted, allegedly by police who accused her of ‘faking her citizenship’.

Minyuku, who is in fact a South African citizen but grew up in the United States, was pulled out of a taxi in Alexandra during a roadblock last week.
Mbhele says it's unacceptable.

“The fact of the matter is that the state of policing, like the state of the nation, is one of stagnant decay, poor management and directionless leadership.”

The DA shadow minister also spoke about the case of 26-year-old Lana Stander from Randburgwho was assaulted, also allegedly by police officers.

Stander caused a car accident on Saturday after having an epileptic fit, but police accused her of being drunk.

WATCH: 'Police beat and tortured me'

Mbhele says police will keep abusing citizens because the ANC doesn't lead by example.

“These kinds of abuses happen because of a culture of impunity and weak accountability in the police service. It’s little surprise that this is the case when the evasion of accountability has become the dominant theme of the governing party and this administration.”

In its recent report, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation said its research showed that only 47.9 percent of South Africans trust the police, down from over 60 percent in 2012.

(Edited by Tamsin Wort)

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/18/Zuma-Saps-under-fire-for-police-brutality-incidents

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Black South African Police Assault Woman with American Accent

Read story

Cops assault woman for 'faking’ citizenship

A woman was punched in the face by an officer despite trying to convince her she was South African.

Mia Lindeque

JOHANNESBURG – Alexandra police are investigating a case in which a South African-born woman who grew up in the US claims she was assaulted and falsely accused of ‘faking her citizenship’.

RikkyMinyuku said she was pulled out of a taxi in Alexandra during a road block last week and was taken into custody based on her American accent, despite providing a valid identity book.

Minyuku, who is pregnant, said she was punched in the face by an officer in Alexandra despite trying to convince her she was South African.

The officer, who gave her a false name when she asked to report the matter, has not yet been identified in an identity parade.

Minyuku insisted she would not let the matter go.

“I was removed from a taxi by an officer who felt I was not competent enough in a South African language and then I was detained for an hour.”

She said after she threatened to follow the matter up with national and provincial police commissioners the officer handed back her ID book and released her.

(Edited by Refilwe Pitjeng)

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/16/Another-woman-assaulted-by-cops

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cop held over cleaner assault ‘cover-up’

November 26 2014 at 01:30pm
By Kieran Legg

INDEPENDENT MEDIA

Cape Town - A Claremont police officer was arrested on Wednesday morning after he allegedly tried to quash a case against five young men accused of brutally beating a cleaner.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the constable had received cash from the attackers, one a UCT student, to pay 52-year-old victim Delia Adonis’s medical bills.

But he never handed over the money.

It is alleged that the policeman submitted a sworn statement on behalf of Adonis to withdraw the case against the young men, which was never her intention.

The 27-year-old police officer was arrested at his home in Eerste River.

He is set to appear at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, facing charges of defeating the ends of justice.

Also on Thursday, three of the men involved in the attack on Adonis will appear in court for their bail application.

On Tuesday, they were remanded to Pollsmoor Prison.

Upon hearing this, they wept openly in court, burying their faces in their hands.

Chad De Matos, 19, Aaron Mack, 20, and Mitchell Turner, 20, were charged with attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. According to the State, De Matos and Turner are from East London and Mack is from Knysna.

The other suspects are said to have since returned to East London. However, police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut could not confirm this at the time of going to print.

The group of men allegedly attacked Adonis on October 17.

According to newspaper reports, the cleaner was in Claremont when she spotted five young men spill out of the Tiger Tiger nightclub.

The report said the men seemed to wait outside in Main Road where they spotted another patron whom they allegedly attacked.

Adonis reportedly ran to help the victim by calling over local law enforcement officers in the area. Afterwards she went to have a smoke. It was then that the group of young men approached her, dishing out racial slurs as they attacked her, reports said.

It was reported that Adonis could’ve died had her son Tesh-Lee not rushed to her aid.

UCT spokeswoman Gerda Kruger said the university had noted the appearance of one of its students in court.

“The allegations are extremely upsetting and we are working with the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure that the proper process is followed.

“UCT has met with the student and taken his statement. We are actively reviewing all the evidence we are able to gather. For this reason we ask any witnesses to please contact Mr Steven Ganger at UCT’s Campus Protection.”

kieran.legg@inl.co.za

Cape Argus

http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/cop-held-over-cleaner-assault-cover-up-1.1786688

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cops arrested for stealing foreigners’ groceries face internal charges to boot

Sizwe sama Yende@City_Press 13 March 2014 16:57

Four Mpumalanga policemen, who allegedly stole groceries belonging to Somali nationals, will face internal misconduct charges after their arrest last week.

The police officers were caught after one of the Somalians took pictures of them with his cellphone as they loaded items into their van when Pienaar residents near Nelspruit began looting their shops.

The locals ran amok on March 2 after the funeral of 20-year-old learner Wellington Dube. He was allegedly shot dead by a Somalian after a fist-fight on February 25.

Residents vandalised and looted shops owned by Somalians in retaliation for Dube’s death.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Leonard Hlathi said the four constables – BonginkosiMeela (30), DumisaniZiyana (36), ThembaMathebula (32) and AbednigoMkhatshwa (34) – have been criminally charged for theft, the possession of suspected stolen property and defeating the ends of justice.

Hlathi said the groceries were found at a house in Pienaar and the homeowner told police the officers had sold it to her for R2 500. The groceries were valued at R4 000.

The men are out on R1 000 bail each and their next court appearance is at the KaBokweni Magistrates’ Court on April 3.

Said Hlathi: “We’re definitely going to bring internal charges of misconduct against them. The investigations are under way.”……

Read more….

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/cops-face-charges-stealing-foreigners-groceries-face-internal-charges-to-boot/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Woman plans charges against Phiyega over police brutality

The victim says she was arrested and tortured by officers who accused her of being drunk.

FILE: Lana Stander claims she was assaulted at a Johannesburg police station on 14 February 2015. Picture: VumaniMkhize/EWN.

DineoBendile

JOHANNESBURG - A Randburg woman has told Eyewitness News she will be laying criminal charges against National Police Commissioner RiahPhiyega and her office after she was assaulted, allegedly by police officers.

In the early hours of Saturday morning Lana Stander was involved in a car crash after suffering an epileptic seizure while driving.

Police accused her of driving under the influence, a claim she denies.

Stander said she was arrested after the crash and tortured by officers who accused her of drunk driving.

She said she was still traumatised following her ordeal.

“I don’t think I can cry right now or ever again. I feel hopeless.”

The 26-year-old, who suffers from chronic epilepsy, said being attacked by police officers has left her feeling victimised because of her illness.

“This illness is too much for me and I am now being punished by the law for having this sickness.”

She said officials who were patrolling the area stopped to inspect the scene and insisted she was drunk because she was still unsteady on her feet following the seizure.

Stander was then allegedly beaten, thrown against a police car and tortured for hours, suffering several more epileptic attacks during that time.

She said her condition has never been a threat to other road users because it’s been medically controlled for years.

The Randburg Police Station says it’s investigating the conduct of the officers involved.

Watch: 'Police beat and tortured me'.

(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)

http://ewn.co.za/2015/02/16/Woman-plans-charges-against-Phiyega-over-alleged-police-brutality

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Nigerian man accuses cops of assault (video)

2015 05.25 pm

CNS Reporter/Tumelo Tshetlo

A Nigerian national has opened a case of assault against Kempton Park police after he was allegedly assaulted by police at his complex.

According to EmekeIkotu’s wife, Sibongile Mkhize, the incident occurred on December 7 when police were searching his friend’s flat in the same complex in Kempton Park, in Gauteng’s East Rand, Kempton Express reported.

The incident was captured on cell phone video and shows Ikotu pinned to the ground, with a police officer pressing his knee into the Nigerian national’s neck while a group of other officers surround them.

The friend apparently asked Ikotu to come and collect his phone and flat keys before being arrested.

“This was when police accused my husband of interfering and beat him up before arresting him too,” Mkhize explained.

Police spokesperson Captain Jethro Mtshali said Ikotu was arrested for allegedly interfering with police officers while they were performing their duties, and added the police did not promote any form of brutality.

“Her husband has already laid assault charges against the police and the matter is under investigation,” Mtshali said.

Ikotu was arrested for intimidation, defeating the ends of justice and interference, and he was released the next day.

He reportedly sustained injuries to his cheek, shoulder and lower leg, and he later accused the police of taking a watch and R1 500 from him during the alleged assault.

Mkhize said she did not know why her husband’s friend was being arrested and that it did not matter because her husband was not involved in any illegal activity and did not deserve to be assaulted.

“My husband is a good man. I have been married to him for eight years and we have children. South Africans must stop stereotyping, as not all Nigerians are drug dealers,” she said.

In March last year, video footage emerged of what appeared to be two uniformed police officers, David Gunn and GerritJanuarie, kicking and beating a naked man believed to be a Nigerian national in the middle of a street in Cape Town.

http://citizen.co.za/303869/nigerian-man-accuses-cops-of-assault-video/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cops arrested in Parow corruption probe

7 November 2014 12:21

Nine policemen from Parow, in Cape Town, and a former employee of the police station were arrested on corruption charges early this morning.

“The officials: one sergeant, eight constables, and one former employee, will be charged with corruption following information that they took bribes from suspects and stole exhibits,” said Western Cape Police Captain FC van Wyk.

They were arrested by the provincial anticorruption unit.

Western Cape provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer welcomed the arrests.

“This will send out a strong message to all police officials that bad elements within the service will not be tolerated,” he said.

“We wish to assure the community of Parow that service delivery will not be compromised by these arrests.

“Contingency measures have been put in place to ensure that all services are rendered at the police station,” he said.

- Sapa

http://www.citypress.co.za/news/cops-arrested-parow-corruption-probe/