Serious allegations of police corruption were brought to the newspaper’s attention by a local businessman last week.
The foreign national, who has lived in South Africa for 17 years, requested anonymity based on fear of victimisation.
He alleged the police had accosted him at his shop, accusing him of illegally selling alcohol when lockdown forbade him to do so.
According to his written statement, they threatened to shoot him and also demanded a bribe.
The Standerton Advertiser is in possession of a case docket, dated 2 February, and a preamble to a statement, dated 31 January, as well as a statement, dated 2 February.
Copies of the original documents were made in the offices of the newspaper in 13B Burger Street, Standerton the past week.
The documents detail the events of 31 January and include allegations of forced entry and the use of strong language and intimidation by police officers.
He received notifications from various customers that police vehicles and officers were spotted outside his business on the said date. Some of those involved are named in his statement.
According to the businessman’s sworn statement, he went by car to his business where he was allegedly pulled from the vehicle.
His house and business are at the same address. He indicated that he was told to open the premises under duress. An arrest threat was made and it was said that he was selling alcohol while regulations forbade it.
A threat was made that he would be shot if he did not comply, and the man swore under oath that a reference was made to his country of origin.
He recalled being terrified of the police. In his state of panic, he thought a robbery could take place and pressed the panic button to alert Kasselman Security Services. The man reported that he was ordered to tell KSS to leave.
He obliged reportedly amid screams from the officers and told police that he did not have the key for the premises.
They allegedly forced the door to the establishment open.
According to the businessman, his children were terrified of one police officer’s high-pitched voice.
He stated that some officers went to the bedroom and others to the store room while he was under guard. His business premises are licensed to stock alcohol. Yet the police allegedly wanted to confiscate the alcohol. When asked to produce his licence, he obliged.
Police then informed him that someone, who had been arrested, indicated that he bought alcohol from the man’s store when it was prohibited. According to him, the camera footage can confirm the veracity of such a statement.
The businessman said to police that he has not committed any offence. He alleged that the officers demanded R2 000 in cash each.
He further alleged that they refused a cash transfer and he ended up asking asking his wife about the available amount she had.
His wife handed R7 000 to him and was ordered to leave the room because ‘the men were talking’.
After the officers left, the businessman reported the incident to his embassy and was instructed to open a case.
The man concluded with saying he observes the rules and regulations of South Africa as regards Covid-19 and asked for the matter to be investigated.
The Standerton Advertiser contacted the communications officer of the Standerton Police, W/O Nkosinathi Khanyile, on Thursday, 4 February.
W/O Khanyile referred the newspaper to Brig Leonard Hlathi, police spokesman in Mpumalanga.
Brig Hlathi said the same day that police are aware of the case and it is being investigated.
“The case will be referred to the anti-corruption unit,” Brig Hlathi concluded, referring to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
