A man from Ha Chaka, Mosiuoa Khaka, has accused officers at St. Monica’s Police Station of assault and is seeking compensation exceeding M250,000. He alleges that the incident, which took place in April last year, left him with a broken arm.
According to the complainant, he was summoned to the police station following a dispute with his wife. Upon his arrival, he claims that an argument ensued between him and one of the officers. He further alleges that he was ordered to bend forward against a wall and perform repeated squats. When he became exhausted, he says he was beaten with a stick on his ribs and buttocks. Khaka also claims that when one officer briefly left the room, he attempted to escape.
He states that the officer pursued him, apprehended him, and returned him to the station, where he was forced to lie on the ground and was beaten by two officers using sticks. It was during this alleged assault that he says his arm was broken.
In contrast, Police Constable Senapo denied the allegations in court, stating that the complainant was neither assaulted before nor after his attempted escape. He testified that Khaka sustained the injury while trying to jump over a fence, falling into a stony ditch.
Constable Senapo concluded that the court should reject the claim for compensation, asserting that no torture or assault was carried out by the police.
