Metro cop falls prey to racial attack
His sin was trying to defuse a fight
South Africans have no respect for law enforcement officers‚ says a metro policeman who became a victim of mob violence recently.
Landile Zwedala believes the public’s disregard for officers explains why a church congregation in Johannesburg attacked an armed police officer in broad daylight.
Zwedala‚ who has been with the Tshwane metropolitan police department for two years‚ was also assaulted by a group of men near a Mugg & Bean restaurant at Tambotie Mall in Randfontein on November 4.
Four men turned on him after he tried to defuse an altercation involving them and an unidentified motorist at the mall’s parking lot.
“I was in one of the stores with my wife when I noticed a group of white men attacking a black man in the parking area. I left my wife and ran towards the group hoping to stop the fight‚” said Zwedala.
Having failed to contain the situation in the parking area‚ Zwedala opted to run inside the mall to call for back-up.
His sprint to the mall was cut short by a bystander who tripped him‚ giving the group a chance to catch up with him. They punched and kicked him as he lay on the floor.
“Those guys knew that I am a police officer and I was armed when they assaulted me‚” Zwedala said.
“They were not even bothered that some bystanders were recording the incident with their cellphones.
“It’s unfortunate that police officers are not respected in this country.”
His attackers left him with bruises on the head and a bloodshot eye.
He said he was discharged from hospital last week and reported for duty yesterday morning. “I joined [the police force] because I love being a police officer and I won’t resign anytime soon,” he said.
His firearm was taken by his wife while he endured the beating. He has since opened a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Two men have been arrested.
The men were due to appear in court last week but the prosecutor was not ready to proceed and postponed the case to November 23. “The prosecutor decided that they need more evidence. Further investigation is being conducted‚” said Randfontein police spokesperson Captain Appel Ernst.
Zwedala said he hopes justice will be served. “A number of people believe this was a racial attack and they are mobilising the community to boycott Tambotie Mall and the fitness centre where one of the suspects works‚” Zwedala said.
“I’ve handed everything to the court. I hope the legal system won’t fail me.”
The person that Zwedala was trying to assist has refused to provide information to the police on what transpired.
Mugg & Bean has handed its CCTV footage to the police.
Rand West City Local Municipality mayor Mzi Khumalo has condemned the attack and appealed to residents who witnessed the incident to work with the police.
“It defeats our purpose to seek justice in this matter while we have witnesses who are not prepared to avail information‚” Khumalo said.
“There can be no justification for the amount of violence and aggression seen from the video. What’s more distressing is that the aggressors had no qualms about beating a defenceless individual in the presence of his wife.”