A local man has opened a criminal case against a police officer who allegedly drove into him, injuring his right leg.
A local man has opened a criminal case against a police officer who allegedly drove into him, injuring his right leg.
The Extension 6 resident told Grocott's Mail he was on his way to a Youth Day event organised by Makana Municipality when the incident happened.
Ncedisile Bonani said he was walking towards Miki Yili stadium with his friend.
"Just as we passed the Abet gate, the police officer's car came from behind," Bonani said. "I saw my friend running out of the way and before I could turn to see what was going on, the van hit me."
Bonani said the unmarked police vehicle took a while before it finally stopped and returned to him. "I'm not sure whether he was trying to run away or if he was driving so fast that he struggled to stop the car."
Bonani said that as the car came back towards him, he recognised the police officer driving it. He said what followed next was more shocking than the original incident.
"He stopped next to me and said I must stop crying because I was attracting attention to him ['uyandijongisa']," Bonani said.
He explained that the incident happened in full view of people who were also on their way to the stadium. The police officer then allegedly told both men to get into the car and drove off.
Bonani said he thought the police officer had been about to take them to the hospital.
"He stopped the car near a tavern in Extension 6, told us to get out and drove away, leaving us helpless in the street," he said.
The injured man said people from the area where they were dropped off, seeing that he was injured, had called the ambulance.
After speaking to him, Bonani's family went back to the stadium ask police officers there about the incident.
They told his family that the police officer in question had reported to them that Bonani injured his leg jumping out of the vehicle after being arrested.
Bonani said he opened a criminal case against the police officer on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender confirmed that a case of reckless and negligent driving had been opened.
She said the alleged incident was reported to have occurred near Egazini in Extension 6 around 2pm.
