MGANDUZWENI – He says he was beaten up for trying to help and it upsets him that the police are not interested in ensuring that justice is served.
Mr Mandla Mokoena is one of the victims who were attacked and had their property vandalised for being suspected of looting during last week’s protest by Masoyi community members.
“I was on my way to work on Friday just before 06:00 when I received a call from my neighbour that there were men in my house, breaking windows,” he told Mpumalanga News.
He said he immediately went back home and when he arrived, the men started beating him up telling him that they saw him take groceries from their shop on a video taken by one of the community members during the riots.
“They did not even give me a chance to explain, but went ahead beating me up and breaking my furniture.
“One of them even drew an axe that was under my bed and hit me hard on the shoulder,” he added.
Mokoena added that on the day of the protest, he tried to stop people who were stealing from the shop, insisting that he himself did not participate in the looting. “I was looking out for the owners, helping them no to lose some of their stock and this is how they thank me,” he fumed.
According to him, the men dragged him to the shop and continued beating him up in front of a police officer who did nothing to stop them.
Backing him up was one of his neighbours, who wished to remain anonymous. “I was there and I know he is innocent. Mandla is a hardworking man who earns an honest living and he would not steal anything from anyone. He is always helping others and it’s not fair that he was treated like this,” she said.
Mokoena said that when he went to report the matter at the Masoyi police, no one was interested in listening to him.
“They just dismissed me as if I was not there. Even though I showed them the medical report from Rob Ferreira Hospital that proved that I sustained serious injuries, they did not entertain my case,” he concluded.
Mpumalanga News contacted the provincial spokesperson for the police,Brig Selvy Mohlala and this is what he had to say about the matter:
“I find it hard to believe that a police official was there when the man was beaten up. At the same time I am not trying to dismiss the victim’s claims. He should submit an official complaint so that we can open a case and investigate the matter.”
