Police brutality sparks anger in Blikkiesdorp

POLICE have urged Blikkiesdorp residents to approach the office of the Delft station commander to lodge a complaint relating to the alleged assault of a local man by police which also culminated in a 3-year-old being pepper-sprayed.

In a video seen by the Cape Times, the man is seen shaking on the ground while being violently held down by several officers. According to a community activist, who witnessed the incident on Tuesday night, he had been beaten with a gun to his head. 

In another video, the man can be seen showing several gashes on his head with blood flowing from several wounds. The baby is also seen crying while being held by his mother, after he was allegedly pepper-sprayed by police.

The victim, 39-year-old Marlon Petersen, said he was suffering from severe headaches and trauma since the incident. 

“I don’t feel well. My head is still in a lot of pain, I can’t even sleep at night. It’s not right what they do, they keep doing this with the people, not just with me. I have epilepsy, they assaulted me while I was getting a fit, they hit me on the head with a gun three times. I went to the hospital and they sent me to the police. The captain is looking for the registration of the van and for me to identify the policeman to open a case but they were wearing balaclavas,” he said. 

Community activist Crystal Gross said police had been chasing after a person suspected of being in possession of drugs. 

"We had been sitting around the fire outside our homes because it is winter and these zinc homes are very cold at night. The man just came running past and threw a pipe into the fire. They caught the guy and he was beaten with the gun over his head. While the police were running, people came out to see what was going on. The lady came out of the house with the child. When they saw the man being beaten, people got angry and started shouting. Police got into their vehicle, sprayed pepper spray then they drove away and the child was sprayed in the process.”

She said tensions were still very high in the community following the incident. 

Another resident, who had also allegedly been attacked the night prior, said police were coming in with balaclavas and no name tags, treating people in an inhumane way.  

“They don’t come to serve and protect, they come to assault the people. Not only me, they wear balaclavas, they don't wear name tags, they just come and grab us, they don’t even talk. Is it because we live in an informal settlement? I ask them ‘are you a policeman or are you gangsters’? I wasn’t sure if it was gangsters or police because they wore balaclavas with their faces covered,” said Brandon Arendse. 

In response to queries accompanied with a video of the incident, on why police were there and why the man was beaten or the baby pepper-sprayed, police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi said: “Delft police did not receive any complaints from community members pertaining the allegations sighted in your enquiry. If they are serious about community policing then they are advised to approach the Station Commander of their local SAPS office to discuss these allegations which are at this stage not on record. The Station Commander will be the best person to provide direction for a positive relationship between SAPS members and the community.”

Cape Times