Jeppe SAPS confirmed that an altercation took place between a woman and police officers on Wednesday night after a video of the incident was released on social media the following morning.
The video shared on Twitter by Yusuf Abramjee showed a woman seemingly being pulled off a chair and then dragged along the floor.
Jeppe Police Station’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Richard Munyayi, confirmed that an altercation took place.
“The woman in the video visited the station to certify documents, but she did not have the original documents.
“The officer requested the original documents and he also pointed out that only a certain number of documents can be certified at one time. She exceeded the number of documents and she did not have the originals. An altercation ensued and the woman assaulted the officer, and other police officers stepped in to stop the altercation.”
“Station management will also meet with the officer and witnesses to look into the matter.”
The Jeppe incident surfaced just a few days after allegations of police brutality at Edenvale SAPS were reported by the EXPRESS’ sister publication, the Bedfordview and Edenvale NEWS.
It was reported that the case against two DA ward councillors and community members accused of assaulting Edenvale police officers was postponed to September 6. The same ward councillors and community members, in turn, accused Edenvale SAPS of assault. The Edenvale matter was also reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Also read: Jeppe SAPS on scene of CIT arrests at George Goch Hostel
With several cases of alleged police brutality, this is how residents can go about reporting cases against police officers.
How to report a case against officers
Residents are advised to report cases to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which is mandated to conduct independent and impartial investigations of specified criminal activity committed by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) as well as by members of Municipal Police Services (MPS).
The IPID will only investigate matters specified in the IPID Act.
Any person, either as a victim, witness or representative, may lodge a complaint with the IPID.
Non-governmental and community-based organisations may also lodge complaints against officers from the SAPS and members of the MPS.
A complaint may be lodged in person, by telephone, per letter or email to any IPID office.
The complainant must fill in a Complaint Reporting Form, which can be obtained from any IPID office.
Below is a list of the types of matters that must be investigated by the IPID:
• Any deaths in police custody.
• Deaths as a result of police actions.
• Any complaint relating to the discharge of an official firearm by any police officer.
• Rape by a police officer, whether the police officer is on or off duty.
• Rape of any person while that person is in police custody.
• Any complaint of torture or assault against a police officer in the execution of his or her duties.
• The IPID may investigate corruption matters within the police initiated by the executive director on his or her own, or after the receipt of a complaint from a member of the public, or referred to the directorate by the minister, an MEC or the secretary of police, as the case may be.
• Any other matter referred to it as a result of a decision by the executive director, or if so requested by the minister, an MEC or the Secretary of Police, as the case may be.
Residents are asked to take note that the IPID will no longer be dealing with matters of non-compliance with the Domestic Violence Act by SAPS members. Complaints of non-compliance with this act will be handled by the secretariat of the police.
The IPID does not deal with service delivery complaints against SAPS and MPS members, which include failure to investigate, failure to assist, failure to give feedback, rudeness and police misconduct.
The IPID also cannot handle complaints of incidents which occurred before the establishment of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) in April 1997 and those which took place more than a year before they were reported to the IPID, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Also read: VIDEO shows woman pulled off chair, dragged along floor, allegedly by Jeppe police officers
Complaints against correctional services staff, court officials and members of the South African National Defence Force can also not be investigated by the IPID.
Also to be noted is that matters which have been dealt with, or which are currently being dealt with, by the courts cannot be handled by the IPID.
The IPID will also not deal with matters which are not criminal in nature, such as divorce, recovery of money or unlawful arrest.
The station commander or any member of the SAPS or MPS must notify the IPID immediately after becoming aware of any matters that must be investigated by the directorate and within 24 hours after the incident must submit a written report to the directorate.
The SAPS has an obligation to act or respond to recommendations made.
This obligation to act on or respond to the IPID’s disciplinary recommendations is up to the SAPS national commissioner who must, within 30 days, initiate the necessary disciplinary proceedings in terms of the recommendations made by the directorate.
The national commissioner must also inform the minister in writing, and provide a copy thereof to the executive director and the secretary of police.
Each quarter the national commissioner must submit a written report to the minister on the progress regarding disciplinary matters.
Officers from the SAPS or MPS must provide their full co-operation to the directorate, including the arrangement of an identification parade within 48 hours of the request made by the directorate.
Police officers and MPS members must also be available for the taking of affidavits or an affirmed declaration, or to give evidence or produce any document in that member’s possession or under his or her control which has a bearing on the matter being investigated.
The IPID provincial office is based at the 20th floor, Marble Towers Building, No 208-212 Jeppe Street, Johannesburg.
Contact 011 220 1500 or email Complaints.Gauteng@ipid.gov.za
• Information on IPID obtained from www.ipid.gov.za
