On Saturday around 40 teenagers from Scott’s Farm marched to the Grahamstown police station after police officers added fuel to the fire while investigating a domestic disturbance.
On Saturday around 40 teenagers from Scott’s Farm marched to the Grahamstown police station after police officers added fuel to the fire while investigating a domestic disturbance.
Leah Kleinbooi had phoned the police after her son Romano Kleinbooi (25) and her two grandchildren 26-year-old Regaston and Lezaad Coeries (18) turned on each other due to domestic issues. The young men had allegedly tried to stab each other.
The police did not respond at first, so Leah phoned Lena May, the Ward 11 Councillor of the area. Accompanied by her daughter, she arrived at the house son afterwards. At this point somewhat 70 residents had gathered in the street outside the house to see what the commotion was about.
After more phone calls were made four police vehicles arrived at the scene. It is alleged that one vehicle almost collided with a resident’s car which was parked in the street. The three boys had locked themselves up in a room in Leah’s house to avoid being arrested. But the police officers managed to break into the room and sprayed pepper spray at them. They arrested Regaston and loaded him into a police vehicle. When community members spoke out against the boys being unfairly treated, the police officers directed pepper spray into the crowd, directly hitting seven residents in the face and affecting around 20 people. Lena May and her daughter were also affected by the spray.
The outraged residents started throwing stones at the police as they attempted to depart. Some residents stood in the way of one vehicle which caused a police woman to swear at them and try and run some of them over. None of the officers were forthcoming in giving their names to the residents. According to eyewitnesses, Regaston was pepper sprayed again while he was in the back of the vehicle. Outraged children and teenagers then marched to the Grahamstown police station in protest, singing and shouting. Regaston was released and the teenagers were turned away.
Inspector Nobebe who was in charge of the operation refused to give a statement on the issue, claiming that his superior had instructed him not to talk about it. None of the police personell admitted to any march taking place and chose not to comment.
