Bloemfontein – The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) will investigate allegations that a group of Ficksburg police officers assaulted residents last weekend, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The directorate had received dockets to investigate three allegations of serious assault, one of common assault, and one of attempted murder, spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.

The attempted murder investigation related to allegations that a woman was run over by a police vehicle. A so-called “Rambo Squad” of police officers in and around Ficksburg allegedly assaulted residents last weekend.

Free State police said two officers, who were off duty at the time, were arrested for allegedly interfering with on-duty officers questioning a suspect at a local tavern.

Spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo said the matter was under investigation.

– SAPA