The wheel of justice seems to grind slowly for three victims of assault allegedly committed by eight police officers in Edenburg, 83 km outside Bloemfontein, early in 2017.
The trial against the officers began on 28 August in the Edenburg Magistrates’ Court, with one victim testifying. The complainants, Molato Mahlose, Velile Chaka and Lerato Mokotso have been waiting for over six years for the trial to start.
The eight police officers stand accused of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm after an incident on the N1 in the year in question. The complainants claim to have sustained severe physical injuries.
Investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has revealed the officers suspected the men were the armed robbers who had targeted a business in Trompsburg earlier the same day. The robbers had robbed a local furniture store.
The assault is said to have taken place at a roadblock, with a woman who accompanied the men being spared. The three men and the woman had been travelling in a courier bakkie from Trompsburg, after being picked up while hitchhiking.
The courier was headed for Gauteng.
The victims were released from custody after the officers realised that they had wrongfully arrested them.
The officers standing accused are constables: LV Motale, MJ Ningi, RS Masebo, LJ Titisi, HD Malibo, T Sefali, and TE Mosia, as well as TE Kholomba, now a former police officer. The first seven accused are still reporting for duty in the town in question.
