Cop is suing police Ministry
This comes after he was allegedly shot at and severely assaulted by
members of the Tactical Response Team (TRT or amaBeret).
Mbekezeli
Mbuli | 20 November 2013 16:10
The police officer who was
allegedly assaulted by TRT members, sustained severe injuries, including one to
the head.
MATSULU –
A member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is suing the ministry after
he was allegedly shot at and severely assaulted by members of the Tactical
Response Team (TRT or amaBeret).
This
incident is said to have taken place on Sunday October 27, a day after the TRT
were filmed in one of this township’s taverns, brutally assaulting innocent
patrons and pouring liquor over them.
This police official in question has also filed a formal complaint with
the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) after the Matsulu
Police Station had done little to assist him in lodging a formal complaint.
Mpumalanga
News is in possession of the copy of the IPID’s proof of acknowledgement of his
complaint and a commitment to give this issue the attention it deserves.
Adv Mike
Nonyale of the Nonyale MS Attorneys based in White River, has confirmed with
this paper that he represents the police officer and has already filed a letter
of demand to the ministry.
“We are
taking the matter to the High Court and suing the ministry for R7 million,”
said Nonyale.
Speaking
to this paper, the police officer said the TRT members opened fire on his Black
BMW 3 series for no apparent reason, and realising that he was being shot at,
he decided to drive to the police station, but never made it there as the TRT
caught up with him and assaulted him.
He said
they searched his car, but found nothing and yet continued to beat him up in
full view of the public and the Matsulu Police Station commander.
Mpumalanga
News has since been made to understand that this is one of the incidents which
triggered the outcry and the community’s decision to embark on a protest.
Members
of the community were advised to follow the correct channels before embarking
on a strike, hence the decision to approach the station commander and also the
intention to engage the MEC for safety and security, Mr Vusi Shongwe.
This
paper has since been reliably informed that the IPID is being flooded with
complaints from the general public about police brutality, especially the TRT.
