Four police officers who allegedly pepper-sprayed a man in Cape Town in April last year, will appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on assault charges on Tuesday.
The complainant was allegedly manhandled after he was accused of breaking Covid-19 lockdown regulations at about 23:30 on 14 April 2020.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigated the case.
"It is alleged that the complainant was on his way to park in front of Total Garage Bonjour, Wood Drive, Parklands, when police officials stopped him. This convenience shop is about 350 metres from his home address," IPID spokesperson Ndileka Cola said.
"According to the complainant, he explained to the female police officer that he wants to buy himself [an] energy drink at the convenience shop. It's alleged that the officer's response to the complainant was that [an energy drink] is not an essential product and she's going to arrest him for breaking the lockdown regulations."
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The complainant allegedly resisted arrest and the other officers assisted their colleague.
The officers allegedly threw the complainant on the ground, slapped his face and pepper-sprayed him.
It is also alleged that they prevented the complainant from using his cellphone to call his parents, Cola said.
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