Police brutality has reared its savage head once again. A 25 year old Lenasia youth was brutally assaulted by police officers on the evening of 20th November 2012. Ikraam Seedat was driving along Nirvana Drive in Lenasia when he was ‘cut off’ by an unmarked police vehicle.

According to Ikraam, he was arriving from Johannesburg when an unmarked white Nissan van with 5 police officers tailgated his vehicle and drove recklessly. In order to avoid an accident, Ikraam pulled over to the side of the road.  Two police officers from the Lenasia police station who were allegedly drunk approached Ikraam’s vehicle after he stopped. Without producing any identification, they asked him to produce his driver’s licence which he did. An altercation ensued and the driver of the unmarked police vehicle pushed Ikram. In self-defence Ikraam pushed the officer back.

Seeing the situation was beginning to get violent, the security guard accompanying Ikraam tried to break up the scuffle. “The driver leaped over my security and punched me in my nose, thus causing my nose to break and me bleeding profusely,” said Ikraam. He was admitted to Lenmed Clinic.

Ikraam was not the only person assaulted by the police. Hassan a witness to the incident who came to the assistance of Ikraam, had his pants dragged off as police tried to retrieve the keys of Ikraam’s van from his pocket. The witness also said that police only switched on the blue beacon lights after crowds gathered at the scene.  

Another eye witness who wants to remain anonymous said her husband came to the assistance of Ikraam, but was verbally abused by the police officers on the scene. “We saw four cops pulling this youngster. Dragging him practically from the inner road of Nirvana drive. Dragging him across the road. So when we saw it’s a Muslim boy, I still told my husband it’s a Muslim boy jump out. “

We will kill him
As the witness’s husband came to the assistance of Ikraam, he asked the police officers what they were doing to the boy. They refused to acknowledge the witnesses question. Subsequently the witness told Ikraam not to say anything and to continue to hold onto his van as police officers were trying to drag him away from it. “The one cop that hit him said, ‘if we have to kill him, we will kill him,’ said the witness.

At the police station members of the community rallied for the culprits to be charged as they walked nonchalantly within the compounds of the police station. A short while later Ikraam arrived after being discharged from Lenmed Clinic. Ikraam proceeded to issue a statement of the assault but was arrested on charges for theft, malicious damage to property and assault.

Ikraam appeared in the Lenasia Magistrates Court this morning at 11:00am. He was charged with theft, malicious damage to property and grevious bodily harm. He was released on R1000 bail and will reappear at the Lenasia Magistrates court on the 21st December 2012.