A shocking cellphone video showing a policeman standing on a Cape Town grandmother’s head while she lies on the ground has infuriated Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer, who has vowed to investigate.
eNCA named the woman as Roseline Appolis, and said she was “roughly arrested” on November 23 after she had intervened in a street fight in which her daughter was slapped, says News 24.
Police spokesman Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana said Western Cape police management had noted with concern the “horrific contents” of the video in circulation on social networks, in which the middle-aged woman is seen being manhandled and assaulted by police.
Kinana said an investigation had been launched and preliminary findings indicated that the assailants were police members based at Kraaifontein police station.
“Contact has been made with the victim in an effort to encourage her to open a criminal case against the officials. A process is under way to institute internal disciplinary steps against the members involved,” said Kinana.
Lamoer said: “We undertake to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair and just manner. Once the investigation is finalised, the outcome will be communicated. Police brutality within our ranks is condemned and will be rooted out,” he said.