Five suspects are expected to appear before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court today, October 16 after they were captured on a video allegedly assaulting a police officer in Eden Park.
The video circulating on social media shows a scuffle between community members and police on patrol in the area.
🩸High cop shoots live ammo at frustrated community members.🩸
They are threatened and even shot at by a SAPS member allegedly high or under the influence of alcohol in uniform.
This was apparently in Eden Park in Ekurhuleni earlier today. So much wrong in this video in how… pic.twitter.com/wk78JjQUL2— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) October 12, 2023
The incident occurred on October 12 and has been condemned by Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela.
Brigadier Brenda Muridili of the Gauteng police said the suspects between the ages of 32 and 57 will be charged with obstructing police in the execution of their duties, attack on police officers, assault on police officers, and attempted robbery of a firearm and the driver will face an additional charge of reckless and negligent driving.
The Provincial Commissioner has reiterated that those who seek to undermine the authority of the State will be dealt with decisively.
According to Thebe Khumalo, Senior Media Specialist at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, allegations are that the police officers were in the area to collect bribes from drug dealers and might have also been highly intoxicated themselves. An allegation that the Committee takes very seriously.
“The Committee has therefore resolved to write to the Provincial Police Commissioner requesting for a report on the incident and should it be found that these Police Officers were involved in any wrongdoing, the Committee will request the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to probe the matter and ensure that these Officers get to account for their behaviour,” he said.
Khumalo said if these Officers are found to be guilty, they should be stripped off their badges and a serious example should be made out of them by sending them to prison for a very long time.
Residents are urged to refrain from taking the law into their own hands but to report any form of crime to Law Enforcement Agencies whether the crime is committed by a police officer or an ordinary member of the Public.
