BY REGINALD KANYANE

The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Region on Tuesday called on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to investigate allegations of police brutality.

This follows the alleged assault of SANCO Regional Executive Committee Member who was in police custody at the Ganyesa Police Station in the North West province.

“We are concerned that Kgosietsile Phillip was denied proper medical care after he was allegedly assaulted by the Public Order Policing Commander after his arrest on Monday together with six other people. Phillip was reportedly only taken to the local clinic on Tuesday after intervention by our Kagisano-Molopo zonal leadership,” Regional Secretary, Mika Moeti said.  

Moeti said that Phillip and the six were arrested after community protests demanding resumption of construction of a tarred road on the D327 Ganyesa-Mmadinonyane gravel covering 70 kilometers across 18 villages.

“Police brutality provokes communities to anger and violence which we are discouraging during service delivery protests,” Moeti highlighted.

He said that Sanco members and members of the public from affected communities will picket in support of Phillip and those arrested during their court appearance at the Ganyesa Magistrates Offices on Wednesday.

“We expect Murray & Roberts awarded the R265 million road construction project and paid R50 million in advance to immediately return to site, alternatively the provincial government should appoint another service provider to complete work that came to an abrupt halt after only 3 kilometers of gravel was compacted,” Moeti stressed.

The multi-million project was endorsed by communities including  the taxi industry as a priority project during Public Works,Roads and Transport MEC’s consultative road show in November 2012.

The taxi industry had during the engagements complained that the lifespan of their vehicles were short lived as a result of the rocky gravel road they traveled on a daily. 
-TDN
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