MP charges police with brutality: report

An MP has brought charges against Johannesburg metro police for allegedly crashing into her car and insulting her, according to a report.

She thought she was being hijacked when metro police officials confronted her in Sandton on Friday, arts and culture portfolio committee chairwoman Thandile Babalwa Sunduza told the New Age newspaper.

After telling them she would park her car to avoid blocking traffic, Sunduza reportedly said she "heard a big bang" and realised a metro police 4x4 had crashed into her car. About 10 metro police surrounded it.

"It was traumatic.... The female officers were calling me 'isifebe' (a "whore") and a dog," she was quoted was telling The New Age.

She said she was threatened with arrest for talking on her cellphone while driving, but reportedly claimed both her cellphones were in the car boot.

Sunduza had brought charges of intimidation and malicious damage to property against the metro police officials.

Police spokeswoman Captain Kym Cloete told the newspaper no arrests had yet been made, and Johannesburg metro police spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said a separate, internal investigation had been launched.

"If [the metro police] are in the wrong, action will be taken against them," she said.