Cops bashed over tickets

Angry worshippers have attacked two Durban metro police cops who were writing out tickets for vehicles parked illegally outside a mosque.

The officers were ticketing illegally parked vehicles in front of the Mohammedeya mosque in Sparks Road, Overport, Durban, when they were attacked by worshippers celebrating Eid-al-Fitr at the mosque, praying at the conclusion of the fasting holy month of Ramadan observed by Muslims all over the world.

The road past the mosque is a route connecting the city with suburbs such as Westville, Sydenham and Clare State.

Furious worshippers took the metro cops by surprise, jostling and slapping them. The officers were slightly injured. The chairman of the Mohammedeya mosque, Norman Khan, expressed his shock at congregants scuffling with the metro police. "I was there, but did not see the incident unfolding," he said.

The officers evidently told worshippers they were obliged to issue traffic fines as their vehicles were obstructing traffic.

No amount of explanation could convince the worshippers to leave the officers alone.

The worshippers did not listen while berating the policemen about why they issued the tickets when they had permission to park on the roadside and pavement near their mosque.

Khan said he had asked congregants not to park on the pavement as they had no permission to do so. The situation got out of hand when the officers were jostled and slapped around by a group of more than 10 worshippers. The two officers called for backup.

The group grew quickly as more than 100 streamed out of the mosque, hurling insults at the police, demanding to know why they had written them tickets.

Tension mounted with as extra metro cops arrived in vehicles, which included an armoured riot truck.

Rush-hour traffic was halted for more than 30 minutes as senior metro officers tried to resolve the deadlock.

Metro police spokesman Eugene Msomi confirmed the incident.

Msomi said the metro police arrested two people on the scene.

"People there were angered by seeing their cars with traffic fines. Our members were manhandled by the people. They claim to have parked lawfully after obtaining permission," he said.

Msomi said no proof of permission was displayed on the cars.

"Even if a person had permission, it is not correct to assault the officers. Our officers were injured during the scuffle. The matter is being investigated," he said.

Khan expressed disappointment in members of his congregation.

"Eid al-Fitr is a very important prayer day for us and people need to observe it in peace," he said.

"The prayer does not take a long time and it is observed once a year. Those people who were involved in fight with the police should be charged," said Khan.