Brothers charged for alleged assault on woman

TWO police officers accused of assaulting a Ballito businesswoman with a chair and punching her twice in the face, have been arrested and charged.

Gerald Reddy, an SAPS officer, and his brother, Jarryd Reddy, a metro police officer, were arrested on March 15 and charged with assault GBH, extortion and pointing a firearm.

The brothers appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on the same day and were released on bail.

Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KZN, said the accused were released on R3 000 bail each and would appear again in court in May.

The men are accused of assaulting Viloshini Chengadu at her recycling business in Mount Edgecombe on March 5.

At the time, Chengadu had said that one of her trucks was involved in an accident with an off-duty police officer’s private vehicle on Spine Road.

She claimed when the police officer and his brother arrived at her business premises to discuss the quotation for the damages, she was assaulted. The police officer allegedly picked up a chair and threw it at her.

This week, Chengadu said she was disappointed with the investigating officer.

“I went to the police station daily for answers about an arrest. When it eventually happened, I was not told. I even sent the investigating officer a message on the morning of the arrests and he only gave me feedback on the case later that evening. I wanted to be in court to ensure that the information in the docket was correct.”

She said she was not doing well emotionally.

“I have not been to work since the incident. I am the face and the pillar of the business, and it is so hard for me not to be there.

“My family is handling it. It’s been just more than three weeks since the incident. My blue eye is still healing and my head is still swollen. I will be seeing a psychologist to help me deal with the trauma.”