A Tembisa South police officer is facing disciplinary action for assaulting a woman who approached the township’s station to open a criminal case.
Watch: Tembisa woman assaults by SAPS member on camera
Video footage showing the horrific display shown by the police officer surfaced on social media, on Wednesday. According to renowned crime reporter Yusuf Abramjee, the woman was subjected to a beating by the same officer she ran to for help.
From what we understand, the woman was at the station with a female friend, who captured the ordeal on camera.
Another video clip shows the harrowing moment the police officers involved in the assault realised they were being filmed. The eyewitness fought valiantly against more than one officer who tried to grab the woman’s phone, possibly in a bid to destroy the incriminating footage.
Fortunately, the videos were shared on social media and went viral, prompting a response from national spokesperson Lirandzu Themba who confirmed, in a statement, that the matter has been prioritised by the Gauteng police department.
“Gauteng [SAPS] say the officer has been identified and the provincial inspectorate, a component dealing with complaints against the police, has already instituted a departmental disciplinary investigation against the member,” Themba wrote.
However, it’s unclear, at this time, if the police officer in question has been placed on suspension. Moreover, Themba explained that the victim of police brutality, and the woman who recorded the assault, have to come forward “so a criminal case against the member/s involved can be opened.”
“The SA police service in Gauteng are calling on the victim and the witness to both come forward so a criminal case against the member/s involved can be opened. The criminal case will be sent to the [IPID] for further investigation,” the police added.
This is a developing story.