Candidate lawyer accuses cops of assault, theft

The Independent Police Investigating Directorate is investigating two East London police officers for allegedly assaulting an articled lawyer, breaking his cellphone and stealing money from him.

Ipid spokesperson Moses Dlamini comfirmed on Wednesday that the directorate was investigating cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, theft and malicious damage to property.

Ayanda Ntsuntswana, 25, the candidate lawyer who opened the case against the officers, is doing his articles at Manyisana Attorneys in Union Street.

Ntsuntswana alleged that he was attacked by the officers outside a block of flats in Moore Street in Quigney on September 23, where he had attended a party at a friend’s place.

He claimed the officers, a man and woman, stole R800 from his pocket, sprayed him with pepper spray, punched him and, when he attempted to take footage of the incident, the officers broke his cellphone.

“I was catching some fresh air and the cops came to me and asked what I was doing outside before accusing me of trying to break into one of the flats.

“I told them I would take legal steps about their illegal conduct and that is when they started assaulting me,” he claimed.

He said the officers had accused him of selling drugs.

“They beat me up, searched me and found my R800 and took it,” he alleged.

“They then locked me inside the van and drove with me to the Fleet Street police station.”

He claimed an officer sprayed pepper spray in the van.

Ntsuntswana, who is out on R300 bail, will be back in court on October 29.