Cop accuses Hawk of assault

A Saturday night of soccer turned into a nightmare for an East London policeman when he was assaulted in a tavern, allegedly by a member of the East London Hawks.

Warrant Officer Ayanda Hermanus was allegedly attacked by Sandisile Zenzile while they were watching a Premier Soccer League match last Saturday at a tavern in Dawn.

The Dispatch understands Hermanus’s left eye was badly injured and he has a deep gash on his forehead.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Anelisa Feni would not be drawn to comment on the details of the case but confirmed a case was opened.

“The matter is being investigated by the Cambridge Police Station,” Feni said. Eastern Cape police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni also confirmed that Cambridge police detectives were on top of the case.

The Dispatch was told that when Hermanus was ordering beers from the tavern owner he was given a tongue-lashing by the owner.

Zenzile then reportedly joined the fray, punching and kicking Hermanus in the face until he fell outside the tavern.

Hermanus received an eye check at a private East London hospital on Sunday, his furious wife told the Dispatch.

He has been going for checkups since the incident and will go for another check-up in a week’s time to determine if he needs surgery to his left eye.

“We opened a case at Cambridge police station on Sunday and there was hesitation from the police there to process the case.

“They kept questioning his version of the story.

“We went back on Monday to open a case, and they only gave us a case number on Tuesday,” she said.

However, Tonjeni said: “The SAPS would like to refute the allegation that when the case was reported to Cambridge police on Sunday, officers were hesitant to open it and it was only processed a day after.

“We state categorically that the complainant arrived at the Cambridge station on Sunday but was not able to vividly recall the exact facts of what happened on the day of the incident and said he will come the next day.”

Zenzile then reportedly joined the fray, punching and kicking Hermanus