MACHADODORP - Provincial Police are warning members of the community not to engage in unruly behaviour when airing grievances.This comes after Machadodorp residents prevented the local police from executing their duties on Monday, 11 September.

The community stormed the local police station and blocked the exits with their vehicles, so that police officers could not leave to attend to complaints. A shop was looted by a mob at the time of this incident, and by the time the officers were able to leave the SAPS premises, it had already been set on fire. Section 205 of the Constitution states that the police are tasked with, inter-alia, maintaining public order and enforcing the law. Any person who, in anyway whatsoever, causes the police to derail from this mandate, shall be dealt with in the harshest possible way.

Late yesterday, the community also blockaded a road and torched two trucks. No arrests have been made as yet and the investigation continues.

The riots began after two men from a local security company allegedly assaulted a community member earlier on Monday. The incident was captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media. It seems that the problem started when the victim and another man, employed by the local business owner whose shop was later burnt down, had a fight. The owner alerted his security company, leading to the assault.

Meanwhile the two security officers, Bruce Botha (29) and Wayne Swart (20), were arrested yesterday on charges of assault to cause grievous bodily harm and appeared in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court. They were remanded in custody and ordered to reappear in the same court on Friday, 14 September, pending a formal bail application.

The SAPS want to assure the community that this incident is receiving due attention and request the community to allow them to execute their duties. Members of the community are also urged to refrain from destroying property and infrastructure when raising their concerns, no matter how strongly they may feel about matters, as vigilantism and violence will not be tolerated.

The allegation that police who arrived at the scene during the alleged assault did nothing, is currently also being investigated. Police are aware of allegations that the members in blue fear to intervene when a certain race is on the wrong side of the law, but will act swiftly when the perpetrator is of another race. The SAPS regard these allegations as baseless and false. Police in the province carry out their duties without fear, favour or prejudice and without looking at the colour, race or creed of the parties involved.

The community also complained that police took the suspects to court without inviting the complainant. According to the SAPS, the complainant will receive feedback regarding the investigation and be summoned to court in due course.

Police are currently investigating  the following charges: two of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, arson, public violence and malicious damage to property. The situation in the town is closely being monitored.

Submitted by: Brig Leonard Hlati
Editor: Anchen Coetzee
Subeditor: Lynette Brink