Police brutality shocks DA

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Dianne Kohler Barnard

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Johannesburg - The DA says it is shocked by the latest case of alleged police brutality in which a court interpreter was dragged alongside a car for 100m in Setlopo Village, Mahikeng, in North West.

Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard said on Friday that President Jacob Zuma and Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had failed to show leadership on the issue.

“The [SA Police Service] is past crisis point, and the South African public must know that the president and the SAPS leadership take this matter seriously.”

She said there had been no response from Zuma on a call for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry into police brutality.

“Since our request for this commission more than a week ago, there has been no action from the president.”

Earlier on Friday, Mthethwa's spokesman Zweli Mnisi told SABC radio news that the incident was embarrassing and disgusting.

He said the “issue of command and control” at police stations needed to be looked at.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) said on Thursday that a North West police officer had been arrested for allegedly assaulting a man in Setlopo Village in Mahikeng, and dragging him alongside a police vehicle.

The man, a court interpreter at Molopo Magistrate's Court, was called over to the police vehicle after speaking to a boy who had allegedly been harassed by the same officers moments earlier.

A 36-year-old sergeant was arrested on Wednesday, and was due to appear in court on Friday, said Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini.

Sapa