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11 December 2001 The Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating incidents of police abuse of power and racism perpetrated by white police officers from the Sunnyside Police Station.In an incident which occurred in Magnolia Park in Pretoria on Friday, 07 December 2001 it is alleged that two white police officers stationed at Sunnyside police station arrested four civilians, two males and two females for allegedly drinking in public. It is alleged that the two females were detained in a dirty holding cell with a bucket full of urine. The said civilians spent about nine hours in the holding cells and they were fined R50 each and released on Saturday, 08 December 2001 at about 2h00. This complaint was reported to the ICD by Ms Joyce Mofokeng, Member of Parliament, Gauteng Legislature. In a separate incident which occurred in Sunnyside in Pretoria on Saturday, 08 December 2001 two white police officers from the Sunnyside police station went to Totem Flats to enquire about noise making. It is alleged that upon arrival the police officer kicked open the door of a flat where a party was being held and requested the flat owner to play the music softer, failing which the music system will be confiscated and all people in the said flat would be arrested. An ICD official, who attended the party, wanted to ascertain from the police what the problem was. He identified himself as an ICD official, indicating his willingness to assist the police to resolve the tension between them and the flat owner. He was summarily handcuffed and arrested, and police alleged that he was interfering with their duties. The police officer said: "Do you think that when you are an ICD official, you are something. You are nothing, right now you are just a black monkey under arrest". The ICD official suffered injuries to his wrists as a result of the police officer pushing the official around and squeezing the handcuffs tighter. At the police vehicle, the said police officer said to the ICD official, "Klim in bobbejaan". After spending a night in the police cells he was released on Sunday, 09 December 2001. The police withdrew the charges against him on Monday 10 December 2001, after he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. The said ICD official has opened a case at the Sunnyside police station against the suspect police officer for common assault and crimen Injuria. It is also alleged that Sunnyside police officers continued their spree of assaulting and harassing people while arresting others for drinking in public in Sunnyside on Saturday night. An officer who did not want to be identified confirmed that there were a number of complaints lodged against a Sunnyside police officer who was promoted to the rank of Inspector a few weeks ago. The ICD has also recommended to the Shift Commander at the Sunnyside police station to charge a certain police officer with misconduct since he was manning the charge office under the influence of alcohol on Saturday night, 08 December 2001. The said officer was observed by members of the public consuming alcohol which was hidden in a vehicle parked in the police station parking area. It is also alleged that at some stage the charge office was left unattended when the said officer was consuming alcohol in the said vehicle. A police officer who wanted to remain anonymous confirmed that the said officer was in the habit of drinking while on duty. The Executive Director of the ICD Adv. Karen McKenzie said: "We are concerned that allegations against white police officers at Sunnyside police station are that they are targeting blacks in apparent racist-motivated raids and arrests, over weekends. Policing with a total disregard of the human rights of civilians can no longer be tolerated _ it is imperative for police management to intervene very strongly and urgently where apparent racist tendencies appear to be influencing policing". Issued by Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) Steve Mabona |
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