WATCH: 'I'm not a gangster' - Police accused of profiling, assaulting student in Manenberg

A 22-year-old student and freelance videographer, Storm Munro, says he was assaulted by police near his home in Manenberg last week after questioning why officers wanted to search him. 

A video filmed by Munro and his neighbours shows him being surrounded by a group of armed officers, some with covered faces, before being grabbed, thrown to the ground, and having his bag forcibly taken.

"I've been profiled in my community more than a couple of times."

Munro says the officers did not explain the search, despite his protests and attempts to show them that his bag contained only a laptop and a charger. 

"Essentially, the argument escalated because they were not giving me a valid reason as to what the problem was for searching me, and then I refused, and that eventually got to a point where one officer was pulling my bag, and I was pulling it back because I was not giving it.

"Then the whole group of officers forcefully pulled me, and then they took my bag. Before they took it, I actually voluntarily showed that I had a laptop in my bag.

"But then they still went ahead and forcefully took my bag, just to find a laptop and a charger, which internally left me super upset. I started swearing, and I started shouting at them."

Munro added that the incident brought back painful memories of a previous encounter when police mistook him for a gangster.

"Last time they shot me, I was in grade 11, when I got assaulted by SAPS once again. This has triggered me to the point where I have a wall when SAPS approaches me."

Munro said repeated profiling by police has left him fearful and angry, noting that the violence showed how poor training and bias have damaged relations between law enforcement and communities already suffering under gang violence.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) confirmed that the matter was under investigation.

"IPID confirms investigation into an incident that allegedly happened on Thursday, 30 October 2025 in Manenberg, where the police allegedly assaulted a civilian. It is alleged that the police approached a civilian and demanded to search his bag. There was an altercation when the civilian wanted to know the reasons why the police wanted to search his bag.

Unfortunately, this altercation resulted in the alleged assault of the civilian and a case of assault was opened against the police officers. The case was reported to IPID and it is currently under investigations,"said Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping.

To listen to Munro in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: