SAPS and IPID are investigating a video of an assault incident in Fish Hoek, Cape Town. Photo: Screenshot from video.
Fish Hoek police brutality: Cop opens assault case against man in video
The Western Cape police said one of the policemen in the video opened an assault case against the man. Internal and criminal investigations are underway.
SAPS and IPID are investigating a video of an assault incident in Fish Hoek, Cape Town. Photo: Screenshot from video.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) are investigating after a video clip of two police officers allegedly assaulting a man in Fish Hoek, Cape Town went viral over the weekend.
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FISH HOEK INCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION
The video clip starts with the man being pinned down by a SAPS member while another hits him with a truncheon. The incident was filmed by onlookers who tried to break up the altercation.
At one point in the video, the man being assaulted says he wanted to report a missing person. However, the sequence of events is unclear.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the police’s preliminary investigation revealed that the two cops in the video are stationed at the Fish Hoek police station and they responded to a complaint in the area about a missing person.
“It is also worth noting that one of the police officials captured in the video, has opened a case of assault at the Fish Hoek police station, against the man in the video,” said Potelwa.
Meanwhile, the man in the video opened a case of assault GBH against the two policemen in the video. He was taken to a medical facility for treatment.
IPID will investigate the alleged criminal conduct of the officers in the video. The Directorate’s spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, confirmed that a case of assault is under investigation.
The police management in the Western Cape has also appointed a senior official to investigate the accused officers in terms of the SAPS disciplinary code.
“…the SAPS internal investigation will focus on whether the members had flouted any disciplinary prescripts that relate to the conduct of police members,” said Potelwa.
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