An Extension 7 man who went to the Grahamstown police station to report a case claims he was assaulted by an on-duty police officer in front of his 13-year-old brother because of his "bad attitude".
An Extension 7 man who went to the Grahamstown police station to report a case claims he was assaulted by an on-duty police officer in front of his 13-year-old brother because of his "bad attitude".
An emotional Eddie Zono said he had resorted to talking to Grocott's Mail because he needed help and felt he was not getting any from the police since the incident happened on Sunday afternoon.
Zono said he went to the police station with his younger brother who had witnessed a woman taking his furniture from his home.
"A woman who lives in my area came to my house and took my things, saying that I owe her money," he said.
Zono said he wanted to go to the woman's house and get his things back, but his older brother convinced him to instead ask police officers to accompany him to the woman's house.
"I took his advice and took my younger brother with me to the police station because he had seen the woman taking the things," Zono explained.
When a police van eventually arrived to take them to the woman's place in Extension 7 things soon turned ugly, he said.
Zono says one of two police officers who were going to accompany them to the woman's home asked him why he looked so angry and he replied that he had gone to the police station to report an upsetting incident.
"Why wouldn't I be angry?" He says the police officer then told him he had a bad attitude.
"I told him I was not there to have a conversation, I just wanted him to help me get my things back. Immediately after that he gave me a hard smack on the face," said Zono.
He says the police officer then dragged him and tried to pepper spray him, but he used his cap to cover his eyes.
The police confirmed that a common assault case is being investigated against a Grahamstown police officer.
No arrests have been made, but the case is under investigation.
Zono says he still does not have his furniture back, adding that attempts to set up a meeting with the station commander on Monday and Tuesday proved fruitless.
The incident infringed his right to human dignity, Zono says.
"The thing that hurt me the most is that my little brother saw this. How will he have the confidence to report a case when he saw his older brother being assaulted by the police?"
Furthermore, Zono says when he requested to see the station commander he was directed to other senior police officers who allegedly tried to persuade him not to pursue the common assault case against the police officer.
"I know who this police officer is, and all the police officers I spoke to know him," he said.
