Pensioner claims she was let down by police
Maselebane spent a fortune on building plans, which she claimed the man did not even bother to look at.
Gogo Vali Malaka Maselebane (79) from Spruitview told Kathorus MAIL how traumatised she was following an incident that took place on December 17, last year. She claimed she was assaulted by a man who was building a cottage for her. She also claimed the police denied her justice after she reported the case.
Following her retirement after more than 40 years working as a school teacher in Katlehong, Maselebane wanted to use her hard-earned money to build a cottage outside her main house.
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Maselebane claimed the man who was supposed to build her a two-bedroom cottage with a bathroom and a living room did not care about the quality of his work. Instead, he kept on demanding more money.
“What surprised him is that at my age he never thought I was going to question his building ability. I started by questioning the foundation and then the crooked walls,” said Maselebane.
“He never used measuring tools. He thought I was naive. After seeing things were not happening the way I wanted and that the man kept on demanding money from me, I immediately called the inspectors to come and confirm if I was correct for doubting the work that he was busy with.
“Inspectors came and told the builders to stop building. The inspector demanded that some of the walls be destroyed. By that time I had already paid builders more than R25 000, not to mention the money I paid for the building materials of the walls which were later destroyed.”
Maselebane broke the news to the builder on December 16, which he did not take well. He and his friends allegedly attacked Maselebane the following morning.
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“Four men entered through the garage door and knocked on the kitchen door. I went to see who was knocking so early in the morning before 6am. On my arrival at the door, two men were standing visible to me, while the other two stood in my blind spot,” said Maselebane.
“I asked what they were doing at my door so early in the morning. The builder, standing in my blind spot, grabbed my arm and pulled it through the safety gate. I fought back tirelessly until I was able to lock the door and the safety gate,” she said.
Fearing for her life, Maselebane went to Katlehong Ramokonopi Police Station that same morning to report the attack. While walking to get her transport to the police station, the man reportedly appeared again, driving a van. He drove and blocked Maselebane’s way. He climbed out of the car and started to assault her again.
“I cried for help, but because it was still early in the morning and as the streets were not busy yet, nobody heard me cry for help. He assaulted me, demanding money. The other three men came out and helped him to carry me to the back of the van. Fortunately, a man who owns a house next to the where I was assaulted demanded they let me go. They released me and I proceeded to the police station,” explained Maselebane.
The investigating officer who helped Maselebane to register the case of common assault told her to wait for a call that will give her details about the court dates.
“Unfortunately, I waited for the call for a very long time until I received a call that broke my heart telling me that the case has been closed because I failed to attend. This was so painful for me because I am a victim of assault. I think the police failed me, they denied me justice in this case.”
Kathorus MAIL managed to track down the man in question, Sam Dube, from Zimbabwe, to hear his side of the story. But the man denied that he assaulted Maselebane.
“I went to Maselebane’s house to ask for the remaining amount of my pay because I was under pressure from my builders who wanted me to pay them. Unfortunately, she refused to pay me and she was very violent. Instead of paying us she told us to leave her house. It is true that there was an argument, but I never laid my hands on her,” said Dube.
The man who witnessed Maselebane’s alleged assault he can confirm what happened.
“I did not only advise her to open the case against the man, but I also told her that if she wants someone to serve as a witness for her, I am available,” said the eyewitness.
Communications officer at Katlehong Police Station Const Sivenkosi Mtwa confirmed that the case of common assault was registered at the police station on December 17.
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“I would like to advise Maselebane to come to the police station and speak to the station commander because it looks like she was denied justice in this case,” said Mtwa.
He said there is no way the police can close the case without the complainant knowing about it.
“Something is not right here,” Mtwa explained.
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