Johannesburg - Two Kempton Park men picked up by police officers say they were taken to the station, whipped with sjamboks, and driven back home.
No charges were laid against Selwyn Afrikander, 23, and his friend, Curwin Pillay, 24.
“They (the police) simply handcuffed us, threw us into their van, drove to their station, whipped us with the sjambok by the smoking area and drove us back home,” said Afrikander.
Afrikander recounted a series of suspicious events leading to this incident. He said an intruder had entered his house on April 1, and had pointed a gun at his mother and sister. The gunman then fled.
He said that on April 4 Pillay was stripped, while out on the street, and came to his house for help.
Then on April 6, Afrikander said, he and Pillay returned home at about 1am and found an intruder in his yard.
“Given the events leading up to this day, we used excessive force and took him out of the yard.”
He said it was just after they had removed the man that they were picked up by the police.
The Star has the name of a constable that Afrikander identified as having assaulted him. Pillay was also whipped and had a plastic bag held over his head.
One of the officers is alleged to have said: “I took drugs from a Nigerian and will frame you with it.”
Afrikander and Pillay have opened a case of assault at the Kempton Park police station. They have also lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
The Star contacted Warrant Officer Collins, the investigating officer for the case. He confirmed he was investigating, but referred questions to Kempton Park SAPS spokesperson Captain Jethro Mtshali.
Efforts to get comment from Pillay were unsuccessful.
Mtshali said he strongly condemned the assault and said investigations were continuing. The two officers involved in the attack are continuing to work on the case, pending the outcome of the investigation. - The Star