Buziwe Nocuze
With the price of cooking oil continuing to skyrocket, it is no surprise that people are willing to steal it, but Betty Duli-Mkina didn’t think it would be the cops who robbed her!
Duli-Mkina’s six litres of cooking oil was allegedly stolen by the police who were at her house searching for a gun. But the police did not only make away with the oil, they allegedly beat her and stole a laptop and a cell phone as well.
Duli-Mkina from Europe township in Gugulethu, Cape Town said she buys groceries in bulk as she owns a soup kitchen to provide the poor with hot meals.
On Sunday evening she heard police officers shouting for her to open the door.
“It was just after midnight when I heard voices outside. It turned out to be the police visiting my home to search for a gun,” she said.
“The 16 police officers turned my house upside down as they looked for the weapon they claimed I had in my house.”
She said they saw a lot of groceries in the kitchen, including the six litres of cooking oil.
“They asked me how I can afford so much cooking oil when it is so expensive,” she said.
“I told them it is not for my house but for the community I am catering for.” While they were busy searching, she asked for a search warrant.
“That was a big mistake. They handcuffed me and started beating me while dragging me on the floor,” she said.
She claims that the officers were from Nyanga police station.
Besides being attacked by people supposed to protect her, Duli-Mkina and her family were left traumatised.
“There were so many officers. The cooking oil part surprised me. I know it is expensive, but taking something meant to help disadvantaged children is a shame and shows how officers do not respect their jobs,” she said.
A resident said police officers are thugs in uniform.
“They are dangerous criminals hiding behind their uniforms. They terrorise communities and [are] getting away with it,” said the resident.
Duli-Mkina opened cases of theft, assault and damage to property at Gugulethu police station on Monday.
Western Cape SAPS communications have not yet responded to Scrolla.Africa’s requests for comment.
