Mayibuye Mandela to sue police after claiming assault by cops

NELSON Mandela's great-grandson Mayibuye Mandela has called on Police Minister Bheki Cele to train and rein in SAPS members who are “terrorising and bullying” people in rural villages.

He was allegedly assaulted by police on May 8 while going back home after visiting the Mqhekezweni Great Place heritage site, where the former president grew up.

Mandela said he was making his way home with three other people at around 8pm when they were stopped by the police officers who asked to search the car they were in.

Mandela said they initially complied with the officers' instructions and allowed them to search, but were taken aback when the officers said they should lie down on the ground to be searched.

“When they started asking for us to lie on the ground I refused and requested to rather be searched standing up against the car, mainly because it had been raining and we were on a gravel road.

“As soon as I said that they said they were looking for people like me who think they know the law and then proceeded to force me to the ground.”

According to Mandela, the officers kicked his head to the ground, causing him to sustain a cut above his left eye, and also beat him up with a stick, which left him with bruises on his back.

He said he was upset the policeman and woman attacked him even though he and his acquaintances did nothing wrong or illegal.

“My lawyers are finalising all the documents because we intend to sue the state, and I'm writing to SAPS national commissioner General Kehla

Sitole, the minister and provincial police.

“We can't allow acts of police brutality to go on without retribution.

“The way things are … it's like we're still in the apartheid era where the police could do as they pleased. The department is to blame for the many incidents of police brutality we are witnessing today; they need to employ people who are passionate about their job and not those looking to have power over vulnerable communities.”

Mandela added that adequate training of the police would go a long way in curbing incidents of brutality, as officers would know how to better handle situations without resorting to bullying.

Mandela opened a case yesterday with the Madeira police in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

Last year the South African Human Rights Commission raised its concerns regarding the rising cases of law enforcement officers overstepping the mark on the general population.

SAHRC commissioner Chris Nissen said although what was happening in South Africa could not be compared to the public discourse taking place in the US and in Europe around the use of excessive force by police, intervention into the behaviour of law enforcement on civilians was important.