A Gauteng businessman is suing the Tshwane metro police department for R50m for trauma, financial losses and emotional shock after he was allegedly beaten up by two officers.
Stanley Kirton, 37, says he was assaulted and intimidated by two officers on the R511 near Hartbeespoort in June last year after being pulled over.
In court papers filed in the Pretoria high court, Kirton states that he incurred medical expenses and suffered loss of income and experienced emotional shock after he was beaten by two officers in the presence of eyewitnesses.
TMPD spokesperson Isaac Mahamba declined to comment on whether they would be defending the matter.
“We are aware about these latest developments and as the matter is before courts, we won’t be able to comment,” Mahamba said.
Kirton alleges he was pushed, pulled and slammed to the ground by the officers who had tried to “dangerously” stop his vehicle at a place where he had allegedly been assaulted by the same officers about six or eight months before.
Kirton claims he was driving within the speed limit when one of the officers “jumped into the road within metres” of his car, trying to stop him.
My marriage is in a shambles because of what happened on that day, everything in my life has turned worse and that’s why I’m taking this fight.
— Stanley Kirton, 37
He drove on as he felt unsafe and travelling with minors, but stopped at an animal care facility and waited for the metro police officers who allegedly arrived “clearly aggravated and agitated” by his actions.
Kirton told TimesLIVE Premium that his life had changed for the worse after the incident witnessed by several eyewitnesses who took pictures and videos of the assault.
“My marriage is in a shambles because of what happened on that day, everything in my life has turned worse and that’s why I’m taking this fight. I’m not doing it for myself, but it’s for every South African to be protected from the kind of torture I suffered at the hands of those officers.”
Kirton told TimesLIVE Premium that he now struggles due to severe post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident.
He says he can no longer drive at night and gets panic attacks every time he sees blue lights.
He said he was on medication to help him cope and seeing different psychologists.
“I’ve lost a lot of things. My poor state of health is affecting my businesses,” he said.
Kirton runs a branding company.
He said his son, who was in the car at the time of the attack, was also traumatised.
“His schoolwork was affected. We had to take him to psychiatrists. He’s a completely different person,” he said.
The first part of his claim relates to medical psychotherapeutic sessions, being admitted to a psychiatric hospital and damages as per an actuarial report.
Kirton has claimed more than R2.3m in his first claim, which includes past and future medical costs and a medical legal and a psychiatric report.
His second claim totals R47.8m, including R800,000 for legal expenses, R7m for loss of income and R40m for general damages including emotional shock and psychological trauma.
His counsel, Adv Quintin Steyn, said they believe they have a strong case as their claims are supported by psychological and actuarial reports.
The Tshwane MPD has 10 days from the date of receiving the summons to indicate if they will defend the claim or not.
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