Cop threatens to ’stab them’

File photo

File photo

Published Oct 8, 2015

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Pretoria - Three Tshwane metro police officers might find themselves in hot water after a video implicating them of harassing a motorist and threatening to stab one of his passengers surfaced on Wednesday.

The video details the incident in which an argument broke out between the officers and the motorist.

The motorist, Edgar Masuku, told the Pretoria News that they were driving through the city centre from Soshanguve to Mamelodi when they were ordered by the officers to stop.

“They said I was straddling the lanes and being indecisive. I was driving near the intersection of Boom and Thabo Sehume streets at peak hour. Traffic was bad and buses were parked on the side of the road picking up passengers. I was trying to avoid them when I was stopped,” Masuku said.

He said an exchange of words took place between him and the officers, prompting the officers to get out of their vehicle to address him.

“They were shouting at me, saying I was being stubborn and that I think I know it all. They came to me and said they will show me who they are,” Masuku added.

He said one of his passengers, Sinethamba Lubisi, began recording the altercation but was told: “What you are doing can lead to you being arrested. I am warning you,” one of the officers can be heard allegedly saying on the video.

The three passengers, Fortune Mahlangu, Jabu Mthethwa and Lubisi can be heard laughing in the background.

“People like these… we stab them with a knife,” the officer could again allegedly be heard saying. Masuka alleges that at that point, the officer pulled out a knife while threatening Lubisi.

“They then tried to grab his phone and pull him out of the car through the window,” Masuku said.

Lubisi was subsequently arrested and taken to the Pretoria Central police station.

Police could not immediately confirm the charges he was facing when the Pretoria News team arrived at the station. Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said he could not comment specifically on the incident, and would only be able to do so today (on Thursday).

“The department first needs to study the footage and speak to the implicated officers which will put us in a position to comment on the matter.”

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Pretoria News

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