Western Cape police officer who assaulted grandmother suspended - video

One of the three Western Cape police officers filmed assaulting a grandmother has been suspended.

Today, Western Cape police announced the suspension of 45-year-old Sergeant Irvin James Kallie after the victim, Roseline Appolis, opened a case against the officers.

Western Cape police spokesman Captain Tembinkosi Kinana said Appolis’ case “was receiving priority.”

“A decision was taken to suspend one of the members immediately as part of the steps management have taken in response to the issue. The matter will also be handed over to the [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] for further investigation into the incident,” Kinana said.

“We want to reiterate our position as an organisation, that what we saw in the video footage is completely unacceptable within the culture and philosophy of the South African Police Service,” added Kinana.

Police yesterday condemned the actions of the officers after a cellphone video of the assault was posted on YouTube.

The trio are from Kraaifontein Police Station, in Cape Town, and the incident reportedly happened on November 23.

The video shows three men dressed in plain clothes, one wearing a police bulletproof vest, dragging Appolis.

One of the men is seen stepping on Appolis's neck and she is later dragged to the back of the van.

Kinana said police had been alerted yesterday when the video was posted.

He said police were still in the dark about what Appolis, who reportedly appeared in court last month, had been charged with.

Provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer said he considered the officers' behaviour "unbecoming", adding: " What infuriates one is that this incident occurs at a time when there is heightened awareness on violence against vulnerable groups such as women, children and the elderly."

This is the second time Western Cape police have been filmed assaulting a member of the public. Earlier this year, officers were recorded assaulting Nigerian national Clement Emekensh.

The officers handcuffed Emekensh, stripped him naked and assaulted him while onlookers, shouted: "Police brutality! That's not how you treat a person. Why are you kicking him? Why are you kicking him?"

One officer, who resigned after the incident, got a suspended sentence and the other is still on trial.