According to Anton and Shane (not their real names), who narrate their experiences with the police officers in the video, the incident occurred on 18 August at 3.30am in Pineslopes.
Read the latest on the alleged police brutality
The men said they were on their way home when a police vehicle parked behind them and told them to get out of their car.
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Anton exited the vehicle but Shane was taking longer to do so and the police officer allegedly pulled him out the vehicle aggressively, hit his head on the ground and also hit his head with the butt of the gun.
One of the officers allegedly said, “If you move, I will kill you.”
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The assault allegedly continued.
In the video, Anton cries out, “Help, I can’t breathe.”
The police officers allegedly held and twisted Anton’s ankle, threatening to break his leg and strangled him until he lost consciousness.
The police officers allegedly pulled down Anton’s pants and carried out a rectal search.
They then went on to search the area around his testicles and could not find anything.
The officers waited for Anton to wake up and then told the men to never do “this” again.
Anton received injuries to his head, ear, neck, tongue, knees and ankles.
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In the video, Shane shared his reasons why he was attacked by the officers. He said it may have been because Anton and him were alone, there was no one close by and they are white.
Head of communications for the Douglasdale Police, Warrant Officer Balan Muthan has confirmed that the case has been opened and is undergoing an investigation.
Douglasdale Community Police Forum chairperson Jean Berdou said the forum is shocked and disappointed to learn of the surfacing of an allegation of this sort against two members of the Douglasdale police.
He said the matter on viewing the video appears serious and the forum has contacted senior police management to follow up on this matter.
“We learnt that the incident occurred between 18 and 21 August in the evening and has been reported and is under several investigations for processes. The first is a criminal investigation and the second is a departmental investigation,” said Berdou.
He added, “Four aspects are being thoroughly investigated, and we appeal for calm whilst the process unfolds. We ask the public to be vigilant and to realise that the vast majority of our police officers are law abiding, hardworking and put their lives on the line every day.”
He said the Douglasdale police shall not in any way tolerate or condone unlawful behaviour by any police officer against any community they serve.
Berdou said the Douglasdale CPF will be monitoring the investigation, including the independent investigation, in order to ensure the processes are followed fully, and where accountability is required he assured the public that it would include anyone who serves the community and they would be held as accountable to the law as any citizen.
“The forum has put many man hours into building their outstanding relationship between the community and police. We appeal to the public not to allow this incident to damage the working relationship between the public and the police which is otherwise essential in combating crime. We continue to urge the community to work with the police to eradicate crime in all its forms for the ultimate benefit of all our community members.”
WATCH THE VIDEO:
#CopRage WATCH https://t.co/ubTxc5Az5F This needs to be investigated! @SAPoliceService @JBerdou @CrimeLineZA @huisgenoot @carteblanchetv
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 25, 2015
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