12 April 2004
South African Police Service (SAPS) members stationed at Sunnyside can once
again hold their heads high after an exhaustive police investigation cleared
their names following front page claims by a local newspaper that they had
beaten a local prostitute into a coma.
Between 17 and 22 January 2007 a number of inaccuracies were printed as
headline news, including that a seventeen year old girl was fighting for her
life in a local hospital after being severely assaulted by a number of
Sunnyside police officials.
Shortly after the publication of the sensational accusations, National
Commissioner Jackie Selebi personally made a surprise visit to Sunnyside police
station and interviewed the members who had been on duty on the night of the
incident, 15 January 2007. The members explained that the woman had
purposefully lodged herself under a police vehicle in order to resist arrest.
After warning her in vain to surrender, the members applied minimum force by
using pepper spray and then pulled her out from under the vehicle. Commissioner
Selebi was satisfied that the members had not used excessive force against the
woman.
Nevertheless, the National Commissioner ordered that a thorough and
objective investigation ensue, which has now resulted in the members being
cleared of brutality.
The investigation, led by a senior Gauteng detective, revealed that the
woman in question, aged 32 years, had vigorously resisted arrest, had been
treated in casualty for minor injuries but never admitted to hospital and had
certainly not been in a coma.
The investigation docket, containing numerous statements from a variety of
witnesses including paramedics and hospital personnel, was submitted to the
Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision as to whether any
member of the SAPS should be prosecuted.
This office has been advised that the docket was recently returned to the
police and that the DPP, on 10 April 2007, declined to prosecute any person.
Although the newspaper group concerned did publish an apology for some of the
inaccuracies, including the false claim that Commissioner Selebi handed copies
of the woman's medical report to editors during a meeting, they reserved
comment on the assault allegations until conclusion of the investigation and a
decision by the DPP.
"The members of the SAPS stationed at Sunnyside who were vilified on front
pages for days deserve an unequivocal apology for having their reputations
unfairly dragged through the mud," said Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The
National Commissioner also reiterated that he abhors brutality and will never
stand for it, but he will always support hard working police officials who are
wrongly accused.
This office trusts that all media groups which covered this incident, as
well as individuals who could not wait to castigate the SAPS based on incorrect
reporting, will take note.
Enquiries:
Sally de Beer
Tel: (012) 393 1574
Fax: (012) 393 2165
Cell: 082 779 8658
E-mail: debeers@saps.org.za
Issued by: South African Police Service
12 April 2007
Source: South African Police Service (http://www.saps.gov.za/)
