Boksburg North officers facing criminal charges back at work

The six Boksburg North police officers arrested at work on February 1 by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in connection with two separate incidents are all back at work.

This was confirmed to Boksburg Advertiser by Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo.

Two of the officers, arrested for an incident involving cable theft from a Boksburg North scrapyard, will return to the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on April 19.

Sergeants Pretty Ndlovu and Hlengane appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on March 9, and the case was postponed for further investigation.

They face charges of copper theft, defeating the ends of justice and common robbery.

The two allegedly forced their way into the premises and robbed the owner of the cables.

The officers appeared in court on February 2, and the matter was postponed to February 3. They were each granted R3 000 bail.

The other four police officers, accused of assaulting and torturing a Nigerian man into a coma on January 9, will return to court on March 29.

Constables Sakhile Mathaba, Mlondolozi Khalipha and Nkateko Hlogwane and Sergeant Sibusiso Shabangu appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on March 3, where the case was also postponed.

They face charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and defeating the end of justice.

They were granted bail of R5 000 each on February 10.

According to the IPID Spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, the four were initially charged with assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice.

Suping said the victim and his friends were approached by police officers who demanded to see their identity documents.

When the victim could not produce an original copy of the documentation, he was taken to the police station and allegedly assaulted and tortured by the officers.

“The victim was taken to hospital for medical attention and was in a coma for nine days,” explained Suping.

Protest
Community members and activists protested at the Boksburg North Police Station on the morning of March 3 and then marched to the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.

One of the protesting community members, Pompi Thobakgale, said: “Sergeant Shabangu has been helping the community deal with drugs and has arrested most of the Nigerians who are dealing in drugs.”

The Boksburg North SAPS station commander, Colonel Mack Mngomezulu, said about 100 members of the community delivered a memorandum of demands to him about the following issues:

• The influx of foreign nationals and the availability of drugs;
• Their support for Sergeant Shabangu;
• The CPF race and gender issues;
• A meeting with station management and the sector commander;
• Police visibility.

Also Read: Boksburg North SAPS successes

Also Read: Take note of Boksburg North SAPS contact details