By BAKANG MOKOTO
7 May 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it welcomes the swift action taken by Northern Cape Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General, Koliswa Otola, in reporting an alleged incident of police brutality against a group of teenagers in Kimberley over the weekend to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). This comes after the DA reported the matter to Otola.
The DA’s Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL) in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, Fawzia Rhoda said according to the group of friends, they were followed in a marked SAPS vehicle and threatened by officials, who used foul language and physical violence to scare them.
Rhoda said one official allegedly used his firearm to inflict bodily harm on an underage girl from the group before continuing the assault with pepper spray after she exercised her right to record the ordeal. She said the footage has been viewed by the DA and submitted as evidence.
“Another SAPS official is also accused of acting violently and striking the driver of the vehicle for allegedly speeding. This is despite the driver’s cooperation with the officer’s demands that his blood- alcohol level be tested.
“The DA is gravely concerned that the police officials are accused of exposing their official firearms without adequate justification, behaving violently and unprofessionally and driving off without taking the driver for alcohol testing, after one of the teenager’s guardians insisted on speaking to them,” said Rhoda.
She said this case has arisen not long after media reports about Roodepan Police Station’s investigation into a kidnapping case of a 14-year-old boy, whose home was allegedly invaded by police officers ahead of his arrest and placement in a holding cell with an adult for over two hours. Rhoda said intimidation and unlawful behaviour by SAPS officials has no place in the Northern Cape, already marred by increasing levels of violent crime.
“The DA will keep a close eye on the IPID investigation and continue to provide support to the affected teenagers and their families. Those meant to enforce safety in our communities must not be allowed to serve as the perpetrators of violence,” she said.
The Guardian 