Police were called to the premises after they received information that scholars were allegedly smoking dagga near her home. The two officers allegedly swore at the woman, pulled her by her hair and shoved her into the back of their van. Video footage of the incident went viral.
Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini said the incident was being investigated. "It is important for the police to uphold the human rights of the communities they operate within and not use unnecessary force," he said.
"Police officers should be protectors of the community and not its abusers."
Newham agreed with Dlamini, saying officers were generally not allowed to assault anyone during an arrest. He said police were entitled to use "justifiable force" if a person resisted being arrested.
"They must not hit you, they must not spray you with pepper spray, drag your hair, shove or push you violently," he said.
"If they put their hands on you, they could be criminally charged and convicted of assault. Those are both offenses in criminal law and in the police's disciplinary code of conduct.
"Professional policing is about treating you in a dignified manner and using only the necessarily aggression to arrest you."