New Year’s Eve is usually celebrated with fireworks and celebrations.
The Kwa-Zanele community in Breyten had a different experience this year, as they were sjamboked by members of the police’s Tactical Response Team (TRT), also known as “Amabereth”, while they were ushering in the new year.
The TRT members allegedly damaged six cars and left several people injured after a scuffle between them and members of the community.
According to Breyten Police spokesman Const Mashegoana, the people had gathered at a venue unlicensed for alcohol after the owner’s application for a temporary licence had been declined.
According to some of the victims, the TRT commander was asking the owner to tell the patrons to leave the area, when some of the members armed with sjamboks blocked the only exit and started beating them up.
“We had to climb the palisade fence to escape the beating, and some just remained where they were as there was nowhere to run,” said one of the victims.
Five of the cars parked outside the venue had their tyres slashed, said the victims. Three of them confirmed to the Highvelder that they ran to their cars for cover and locked themselves in, but the police then slashed the tyres. Another victim said the police chased him to his home and resorted to bashing his car parked outside.
Some officers of the Breyten Police allegedly refused to allow three of the victims whose properties were damaged to lay charges against the TRT members. Const Mashegoana said refusal to open a case for a complainant is against the Constitution. Victims are also allowed to report their cases at another police station and have it transferred back to Breyten.
The provincial head of communications, Brig Mohlala, telephonically confirmed to the Highvelder that the TRT unit was deployed in Msukaligwa as part of a scheduled operation after a spate of killings.
When asked about the Breyten Police’s refusal to open cases against the TRT members, he said the complainants must get the officers’ details as well as case numbers and report the matter directly to him or to Capt Nkosi at the Ermelo cluster office on 017 811 1896.
“People should not refrain from reporting the TRT or any law enforcement officers for fear of victimisation or favouritism. We want to get rid of the negative image that people have of our officers and encourage a good relationship with the communities we operate in,” said Brig Mohlala.
Meanwhile, residents of Wesselton and other areas in Ermelo breathed a sigh of relief with the presence of the TRT and Ermelo Police during the festive season. Gang-related killings and cases of assault were reported and people were starting to live in fear before the arrival of the TRT and Ermelo Police.
A number of arrests were made and roadblocks at random areas of Wesselton and Ermelo were the order of the day, courtesy of Mpumalanga and Msukaligwa traffic officers.
