Gauteng community safety committee concerned about high number of police assaults

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng portfolio committee on community safety has raised concerns over the provincial police’s heavy-handedness.

On Friday, the committee heard a presentation by the Gauteng division of police watchdog group, IPID. 

Between April and September this year, IPID investigated a total of 275 cases of police assault. 

IPID said that 128 cases out of that were referred for disciplinary and criminal proceedings. 

Deputy chairperson of the Gauteng community safety portfolio committee, Thulani Kunene, said this was a concerningly high number.

"Some of us who grew up and suffered from dimpama tsamapoyisa (slaps from the police), it's not very nice. I hope the management of the police will do something about these members of theirs who as a matter-of-fact bashaya abantu (are assaulting people). This is not right," said Kunene.

The committee cautioned the Gauteng police of not emulating the tactics of KZN police. 

Last month, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed that KZN police killed over a hundred people suspected of various crimes over the past year.