Top cops beat pupils - Claim

Four KwaZulu-Natal school boys were allegedly assaulted by senior police officers after being taken from their school to be questioned on charges of theft.

The beatings were so severe that one of the boys lost consciousness, it is alleged.

Now the father of one of the KwaNgwanase pupils is demanding justice.

The assault is alleged to have occurred after the principal called in the police to question the boys about the theft of R400 from a Kwashengeza High School teacher two weeks ago.

The policemen allegedly beat the pupils with batons to force them to confess.

Sduduzo Mthembu, one of the four, was said to have been dumped unconscious at his parents' home.

Attempts by his parents to open a case against the policemen were fruitless.

Sduduzo's father, Lucky Khumalo, said his son was brought to their home in a police car and dumped.

"He was in pain. He could not walk or talk. It was so bad he could not go to the toilet by himself.

"The police have refused to tell us what happened. They chased us away like dogs when we went to the police station to open a case. We were told that no one can open a case against senior police officers," he said.

Khumalo said the school principal refused to talk to him.

"All I want is for the principal and the policemen who did this to be arrested."

Independent Police Investigative Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini urged the parents to report the matter to the directorate.

"Once a case is opened we will investigate," he said.

KwaZulu-Natal education spokesman Mbali Thusi said: "It is alleged that the four stole a purse belonging to a teacher during assembly.

"The pupils were interrogated. They denied taking the money, but some pupils claimed they saw the boys taking it," she said.

Thusi said the principal called the police to "threaten or scare" the boys into confessing.

"The police spoke to the boys near the school gate and continued to interrogate them outside the school. It is there that the alleged assault took place.

"The principal called a meeting of the pupils, their parents and the school governing body to remedy the situation. Counselling was also offered.''

Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane said the station commander has been ordered to give an explanation.