Police robbed, beat us - shopkeepers
..
Cape Town - A Somali shop owner has alleged that
Mfuleni police brutally assaulted his shopkeepers before robbing his
convenience store of R14 000.
He claims this is the third time this year that
police have raided the shop and stolen cash, airtime and goods worth thousands.
The latest incident happened late last month.
Mulugeta Eridado, owner of the 50/50 Cash Shop in
Bardale Squatter Camp, Mfuleni, has since lodged a complaint with police.
Police spokesman Andrè Traut confirmed that a case
of theft against Mfuleni police officials had been opened.
“It was four policeman, the same as before. They
always come here,” said Eridado.
He alleged policemen shoved a gun through the small
opening where customers received their goods, and demanded the shopkeepers open
up as they wanted to “check something inside”.
Mulugeta’s brother, Gezechaw Mulugeta, was inside
the shop at the time, with co-worker Abidi Feta.
They told the Cape Times that after they had asked
to see a search warrant from the police, the officers forced their way inside.
The police then allegedly demanded that the
shopkeepers tell them where their money was kept.
The two men were then forced to get down on their
knees with their hands raised, facing the wall, they said.
Gezechaw said the police then turned off his and
Feta’s cellphones.
Gezechaw told the officers to take what money there
was and to leave the two alone, as police began ransacking the shop, throwing
boxes of goods on the floor.
He alleges police then took the money, which was
stored in a hidden chocolate box, and began assaulting the two, kicking,
hitting and pepper-spraying them.
“I don’t know why they sprayed and beat us. I told
them not to hurt me… They kicked us, hit us and took everything. They locked
the door and we were screaming for help,” he said.
The neighbours, alerted by the screams of the pair,
began banging on the door of the shop, demanding that police open up.
He said the residents were angry and forced the
police to open up the shop. They helped the two wash out their burning eyes.
After hearing of their ordeal, refugee rights
activist Thomas Chamiso went to the Mfuleni police station to lay a charge
against the officers.
“They must investigate. Something must be done to
stop these human rights abuses. They came to this country to search for
protection, not to be abused,” Chamiso said.
Traut said police had received information that
there was a firearm in the shop and they were conducting a search for it.
“While the police were in the shop busy searching,
another (Somali) called the community complaining that they are being robbed by
the police. The police had to stop what they were doing as the community became
riotous.”
He added that no firearm was found and police
abandoned the search.
When contacted for comment, the Mfuleni police said
they had no knowledge of the incident.
Cape Times
