Johannesburg – Thato Mokoka’s uncle opened a case of assault on Wednesday against student Constable Sipho Mbatha, the man accused of murdering his nephew.

Captain Nondumiso Mpantsha confirmed that Russel Judas Mokoka laid the charge at the Meadowlands police station, in Soweto, alleging Mbatha assaulted him at his home on August 8.

Speaking to reporters at the High Court in Johannesburg, Mokoka said Mbatha and several police officers jumped over the fence of his home in Bramfischerville, Soweto.

“They said they were looking for me, claiming I had assaulted Mbatha. Mbatha kicked me on my leg,” Mokoka said.

Mokoka said even though the police did not have a warrant of arrest, they took him into custody and kept him in the Johannesburg Central police station cells. He was released the next morning after paying R2000.

He said he did not know if he had been formally charged, and that he now lived in fear.

The docket of the assault case would be handed to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). Ipid senior investigator Mantsha Rapheshu said he could not comment on the matter.

“We will examine the evidence and then decide to what to do next,” he said.

It was not clear whether the case would affect Mbatha’s murder trial.

Mbatha told reporters at the court that he did not know anything about the accusations, and that he could not comment because the matter was sub-judice.

For more information go to http://www.iol.co.za