Cape Town – A KwaZulu-Natal police officer, Sergeant Sibusiso Xolani Kunene, 46, has reportedly been arrested after a video circulated on social media showing him brutally assaulting and kicking seven men while they lay on the ground.
The incident occurred on August 22, 2023, on the N11 in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal.
In the video, the officer, who is armed with a rifle, approaches the men and engages in conversation with one of them before delivering a forceful kick to the individual’s face. Subsequently, he proceeds to kick two more men in a similar manner.
The video also shows several other individuals dressed in police uniforms at the scene.
Another day in South Africa and another drama as these men, reportedly members of a local taxi association in KwaZulu-Natal, are assaulted along the N11 near Newcastle for allegedly harassing hitchhikers and motorists picking up these hitchhikers. pic.twitter.com/Rko8YkeT7E
— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) August 23, 2023
“The incident is alleged to have happened on 22 August 2023 on the N11 in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal. Two victims are alleged to have lost some teeth and others sustained some bruises. IPID got together a team to investigate the allegations,” News24 quoted Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Robbie Raburabu as saying.
Kunene was arrested on Monday.
He appeared in court facing five counts of assault and was released on R1 000 bail, the report said.
The case has been postponed to September 22 for further investigation, and more arrests and charges may follow.
This incident follows the arrest of eight Presidential Protection Services police officers last month for assaulting Johannesburg motorists on the N1 highway in Gauteng.
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Picture: Twitter/@SAPoliceService
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
