Update: 8 March, 11am
Three Midrand police station officers were suspended with immediate effect on 7 March after a video of a complainant threatened to be assaulted by a policewoman went viral.
In the video clip, the female complainant is heard inquiring about an assault case she had opened at the police station. However, during the exchange of words with a policewoman attending her, the officer is heard saying “Do you want me to fight with you now?……You want me to help you or you want to insult me? Then I will assault you also”.
The Minister of Police Bheki Cele reacted to the matter during an interview with SABC news on 6 March by promising to take action against the officer. Cele’s spokesperson, Nonkululeko Mbatha said, “The matter came to the minister’s attention for the first time during the interview. All three officers who were on duty at the community service centre have been suspended with immediate effect pending a disciplinary hearing.”
Furthermore, the commander responsible for the community service centre was issued a written warning while the station commander of Midrand Police Station, Brigadier David Tsotsotso, was given a strong warning. Tsotsotso refused to comment and referred the issue to the national police department. “I cannot comment on the matter, it is handled at national level.”
Cele has issued a stern warning to police officers who intimidate and insult victims of crime. “Police officers at station level are at the critical point of service delivery and therefore their service must always be on point. Any officer found to be ill-treating victims of crime will be dealt with accordingly through police discipline. Let us continue to serve and protect.”
What do you think should be done to monitor police conduct? Tweet us @MidrandReporter
Earlier: 7 March, 1pm
Police Minister Bheki Cele is set to take disciplinary action against a police officer who threatened to assault an alleged victim of a crime, according to SABC News.
The victim can be heard on a voice recording asking the officer ‘what happens next’ in the assault case she had opened with the police.
The officer is later heard saying, “[Do] you want me to help you or [do] you want to insult me? Then I’ll assault you also.”
#Assault [LISTEN] SAPS employee at Midrand police station threatens to 'ASSAULT' a complainant who was following up on progress on her assault case. The official to face disciplinary action. Another example of how victims experience secondary victimisation #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/vMPBh4H3Tl
— Chriselda 'Babes We Ndaba' Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) March 6, 2018
#Assault [EXCLUSIVE] Cele tells SABC it's a sad day for police that a Midrand SAPS employee threatened an alleged #assault victim with a beating when she was enquiring about her case #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/7hr3mUIoeg
— Chriselda 'Babes We Ndaba' Lewis (@Chriseldalewis) March 6, 2018
According to SABC News, Cele has described the incident in Midrand as shameful and unacceptable.
He said, “If the female officers can behave this way towards South African citizens that are running to them to get their assistance, and they behaved this way, really we can’t take it? The matter is already escalated to the National Commissioner and to myself as the Minister of Police. It cannot be allowed, nobody can behave this way.”
The Midrand Reporter is currently awaiting further confirmation from Midrand Police.
