Police brutality allegedly interrupted a street soccer tournament at Kasper’s shop (Itumelang) Promosa on Sunday, 28 February.
Community leaders had organised this, their second such event, aimed at preventing young children and teenagers from using drugs.
According to one of the organisers, Bronwin “Fiesiese Grootman” Hermans, the event started midday.
“In the morning, the police observed what was taking place and asked one of our friends if we would be closing the street, to which he replied ‘no’,” he said.
The police returned to the event between 20:00 and 20:20 and observed what was happening. They left again and came back with more police officers and started shooting. “They shot without warning,” Hermans added.
Two victims were shot and one was allegedly assaulted.
Naphtal Davids (22) was reportedly assaulted for trying to record the officers on his cell phone and Hermans was shot with a rubber bullet after trying to come to Davids’ rescue.
The third victim, who got 12 stitches, was Willem Opperman (61), who was just passing by.
“They started beating me in the police vehicle,” Davids said. “The police officer who beat me even said I should have a look at his name tag and go and open a case. I asked them to leave me at the police station, so my mother could find me there, but they dropped me off in the middle of nowhere and I had to walk back to where the tournament was taking place,” he said.
A case was opened but later dropped.
According to Col Adele Myburgh, the provincial police spokesperson, IPID is investigating the case. How-ever, the police issued two fines of R5,000 each under the Disaster Management Act.
