KwaZulu-Natal police are investigating an incident where police officers were caught on CCTV camera, assaulting a person during an operation in oThongathi, north of Durban, on Friday night.
In the video footage a police officer can be seen hitting a man with an open hand in what appeared to be an unprovoked act. A little later on, several other police officers ganged up on the same victim and attacked him. One officer can be seen in the video kicking the man, who was already down, and standing on top of him.
KZN provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident that led to the man being attacked, and for corrective steps to be taken against those officers found to have acted against the SAPS Code of Conduct.
Mkhwanazi said that during the execution of their duties, police officers must be mindful of the Constitution and the Code of Conduct and must strive to uphold the law at all times.
“Police officers took an oath to protect and serve and as such they must never abuse the powers vested in them. Communities must be, and feel, safe in the presence of police officers and not be fearful of the very same officers who are supposed to be their source of refuge.
“Police can only retaliate with a proportional, minimum force if they find themselves under attack,” said Mkhwanazi.
The commissioner added that if the report points out certain wrongdoings by police officers, the officers concerned will face the wrath of internal corrective measures. No one is above the law, and that includes police officers, he said.
Pictured above: Illustration image.
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