Cops 'beat' driver and boy, 15

Cape Town - 120802 - Basil Fortune recounts how he was an alleged victim of police brutality while driving his car. Reporter: Neo Maditla Picture: David Ritchie

Cape Town - 120802 - Basil Fortune recounts how he was an alleged victim of police brutality while driving his car. Reporter: Neo Maditla Picture: David Ritchie

Published Aug 6, 2012

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A Cape Town man has laid a complaint against the police after he and a 15-year-old boy were attacked by a group of police officers this week.

Basil Fortune, 36, of Retreat, was on his way to drop off 15-year-old Brandon Festus on Monday night when they were stopped and searched by the police’s special task force.

“There were about six of them and they told us to get out of the car and searched the boot. I was co-operating and doing what they asked.

“But one of the policemen started swearing at me and I asked him not to speak to me like that and that is when he punched me in the chest,” said Fortune.

He said Brandon was punched in the stomach a few times. “Afterwards I drove to the police station with my wife, Brandon and his dad to go lay a charge but we were told the ‘Colonel’ was not in and only he can decide whether or not we should lay a charge. Then we were told to come back tomorrow.”

Fortune’s wife, Venolin, said the police’s behaviour was unacceptable and she had laid a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

Moses Dlamini, IPID spokesman confirmed that they had received the complaint. He said this was the fourth incident reported against Steenberg police this year. The cases are still being investigated.

Kevin Southgate, chairman of the Steenberg CPF, said on Sunday that many of the complaints against the police went unreported. He said members of the tactical response team were brought in to keep the area safe after the recent spike in gang violence.

“For them to be treated like this is unacceptable. People need to be treated with respect. “But it is also important that people be aware that we are taking this matter serously and won’t just sweep it under the carpet.” - Cape Argus

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