WATCH | Ipid investigating as cop assaulting shop manager is captured on CCTV
A police officer who was expected to appear in the Boksburg magistrate's court on Thursday after allegedly assaulting a Pick n Pay manager will instead appear on Friday.
The incident took place at the store in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, this week.
On Thursday, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Ndileka Cola said the directorate was investigating the incident.
“Ipid is investigating the incident which occurred at Reiger Park. It is alleged that the police [officer] assaulted the Pick n Pay manager,” she said. “The police officer/suspect has been arrested and will be making his first appearance this morning at Boksburg court for assault.
“The Ipid investigation continues.”
The officer was due to appear on Thursday, but the senior public prosecutor gave directives for the assault common charge to be amended to that of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), Cola told TimesLIVE on Thursday afternoon.
She added that the prosecutor also required a J88 form — which is a legal document completed by a medical professional documenting injuries sustained by the victim — which had not been completed in time.
The incident was caught on closed-circuit television (CCTV) outside the shop. It is not yet known what sparked the cop's ire. The footage shows the manager walking casually outside the premises with what could be a phone to his ear. A SAPS member swiftly approaches from his left and delivers a sweeping slap to the man's face before laying his arms around the manager's neck.
WATCH @SAPoliceService members assault a man in Reiger Park last night. Cops cannot be a law unto themselves. This nonsense must be stopped.@IPID_ZA pic.twitter.com/QntdWuyn8E
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) October 14, 2020
The man receives another blow which sends him to the floor. He tries to cover his head as he receives more blows. The officer pushes the manager down so he is on his back, swapping hands so he can hold the man down as he delivers more blows to his head.
Another officer joins the scene and restrains the cop. The officer then marches back to the police van shouting and gesticulating as people gather outside the shop.
The whole incident takes less than a minute.
TimesLIVE