INLSA
A Durban mans picture of his reddened neck, after a policeman allegedly slapped him yesterday.
The angry red outline of fingers on his neck and the memory of the SAPS emblem on the gun waved at him.
This is how a routine drive to work ended for a Durban engineer, who says he was slapped by a policeman in a blue-light vehicle yesterday morning.
The 26-year-old, who would not be named, is determined that the policeman, who he says threatened to kill him, be brought to book and has laid an assault charge. He is also to pursue the matter with the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) and lodge a civil claim.
The Mercury traced the registration of the SUV involved in the incident to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.
Wonder Hlongwa, spokesman for the Speaker’s office, confirmed that a vehicle with that registration number had been involved in an incident on the N2.
He said it had been driven by members of the VIP protection unit, and was transporting legislature deputy Speaker Mtholephi Mthimkhulu at the time.
However, Hlongwa denied the man was assaulted or threatened.
According to the engineer, he had been on the N2, 50km outside Empangeni, just after 7am when a black SUV with flashing blue lights came up behind him in the fast lane. He was unable to give way because of a truck in the left lane, and then had to brake hard when a car tried to cut in front of him.
He said the SUV then overtook him by crossing into the oncoming traffic, and forced him to come to a stop in the fast lane. He was instructed to move to the shoulder of the road and a passenger in the SUV got out, brandishing a gun and motioning for him to get out.
When the engineer refused to get out, the armed man came to his window and, hurling abuse, removed the keys from the ignition and threw them away.
The man refused to identify himself, telling the engineer “it doesn’t matter to you”. He said the man cocked the gun and demanded to see his driver’s licence.
The policeman then slapped him across the throat and returned to the SUV at the urging of the driver, who had also got out.
The engineer said he had not antagonised the policeman in any way. He then went to a district surgeon and later reported the matter at a police station. He also sought the advice of the Justice Project SA and then approached the ICD and his lawyer.
However, according to Hlongwa, the engineer had braked hard, causing the SUV to nearly crash into him.
He said the engineer had flashed his middle finger at the SUV, prompting the officers to get out and ask what the problem was.
The engineer had apologised and both parties drove away.
Any other accusations were “completely unfounded”, said Hlongwa. “This is the version of events as far as we are concerned.”
Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed a case of pointing a firearm and assault had been opened at the Richards Bay police station. He said investigations were continuing.
National police spokesman Colonel Vish Naidoo said anyone who felt their rights had been violated by officers were welcome to open a case. “No one is above the law. We are here to ensure people are and feel safe,” he said.
ICD spokesman Moses Dlamini said the directorate would investigate the incident and recommend action to be taken if there was evidence of wrongdoing.
