Police probe 'cop assault' video

A video showing a Cape Town grandmother being assaulted, allegedly by police, was being investigated, Western Cape police said on Wednesday.

"We have started with our investigation. I can't say much at this stage, except to condemn the action," said Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana.

The video has been watched almost 2000 times on YouTube since it was posted earlier on Wednesday.

It is posted with an explanatory note: "On 23 November 50 year old Roseline Appolis was assaulted by police".

According to the person who posted the video, who goes by the name "Lester Kiewit", Appolis was believed to have been trying to break up a fight after her daughter was slapped by police.

"Appolis was then herself arrested, kept in a cell for two days, and then appeared in Court."

At the start of the 21 second video clip, Appolis is on the ground and a man, wearing what appears to be a police bulletproof vest over civilian clothing, seems to be trying to handcuff her.

A second man, wearing jeans and a T-shirt, then deliberately stands on her head.

A third man, also wearing jeans and a T-shirt, roughly pulls Appolis up by the waistband of her jeans, assisted by the man wearing the bulletproof vest.

Kinana said that he was not aware of the woman having laid a complaint herself.

"I have not had any indication she has done so but we are in the process of contacting her so we can encourage her to open a case."

He could not provide more details, saying "we don't want to jeopardise the investigation".

Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato's spokesman Ewald Botha said the department had sent an official to speak to Appolis to encourage her to get a medical report to bolster her case when she laid her complaint.