Cathrine Nyathi, who was allegedly assaulted by a man in the street, is puzzled as to why her attacker was still roaming the streets without having appeared in court.
On 20 October last year, Nyathi opened a case of common assault after being hit by the stranger while on her way to work on Louis Botha Avenue in Wynberg. Luckily for her, she was helped by a security officer who was close to where she was assaulted.
According to Nyathi, the man does recycling and assaulted her in full view of other recyclers. “As I passed through a group of them, he approached me and grabbed me roughly,” she said.
“I thought he wanted to take my handbag as he aimed for the hand where my bag was slung.” Nyathi added that the only words she uttered to her attacker were “Please respect me”.
Before she knew it, she was hit by the man that she said left her dizzy for a few seconds. After gathering herself, she continued walking and met the security officer a few metres from where the incident occurred. She told the officer what had happened to her and backup security officers were called and apprehended the man. They handed him over at the Bramley Police Station where a case of assault was opened.
To Nyathi’s surprise, more than two months later after opening the case, her attacker had not seen his day in court.
She said in December, she tried to get an update from the station, but that was a fruitless exercise. Nyathi added that she had made several calls, was sent from pillar to post and was never transferred to the right person. Eager to see justice served, she said she also sent emails to the station which were never responded to.
She was shocked to hear from one of the eyewitnesses in January that the man was still on the streets. “The woman approached me and asked why I let the man just walk out freely like that?”
Nyathi said she immediately went to the station to find out what was happening with her case and said she received the worst service. According to Nyathi, officers on duty at the Client Service Centre seemed to imply that she was making a fuss over nothing. Shockingly, officers allegedly told her that common assault suspects did not even get locked up in the holding cells as it was a minor crime.
This left Nyathi angry. “How will violence against women end if they see an assault case as nothing.” She said she was living in fear after hearing that her attacker was not in jail, nor had appeared in court.
The spokesperson for Bramley Police Station, Captain Molefe Mogodi confirmed that a docket of common assault was opened at their station. “Investigations have been done and the docket has been sent to court for a decision,” Mogodi said. He also pointed out that the suspect had been interviewed and his details were known. Mogodi also rubbished the allegations that police did not take common assault cases serious. “That is a very wrong assertion. As the police, we take every crime seriously. Crime is crime.”
He added that as police, they wanted to have the full confidence of community members. “We always strive to make sure that we give the best service to all community members that we engage with, be it at the police station or at crime scenes.” He added that should a community member feel dissatisfied with the level of service they received, they must let those in charge know.
“When for example you visit our Client Service Centre and feel that you were not treated well or you were not given the right attention, please ask to see the duty commander immediately. You may also take your complaint to the station commander.
