Cop suspended over brutal assault

2012-03-15 11:43

Polokwane - A Vaalwater policeman has been suspended after cellphone video footage emerged of him brutally kicking and assaulting a youth outside a tavern in November last year.

Petrus Lefoka, 45, appeared in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Wednesday, Beeld reported.

He was released on a warning, and instructed to appear in court again on May 9.

Limpopo police communication officer Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the cellphone video footage was "shocking", and that Lefoka has been suspended.

"The internal processes are also taking shape. He will be appearing before a disciplinary hearing committee in a week's time," he told the SABC.

The Independent Complaints Directorate said it received details of the matter this week, and was satisfied with the way the police are handling the incident.
"We will only get involved if the family or the victim himself are not satisfied with the investigation," ICD spokesperson Moses Dlamini told the SABC.

The incident was first reported by the Sowetan last year, but the cellphone video footage of the incident was only recently made public, after being posted on 2oceansVibe earlier this week.
 

- News24