An African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) city councillor was threatened with firearms by a drunken Western Cape police officer and his brother on Monday night, the party said on Tuesday.
It said it was shocked and angered by the incident in Khayelitsha.
The ACDP alleged that the drunken police officer threatened ACDP councillor Sipho Xasana with a firearm, after the vehicle he [the police officer] was in hit a parked car outside Xasana’s house on Monday night. The car belonged to a friend who was visiting the councillor.
”We will do everything in our power to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice as this behaviour is intolerable and criminal,” said executive deputy mayor of Cape Town, Andrew Arnolds.
Arnolds said Xasana was at his home in Khayelitsha with a friend when they heard a loud bang outside.
”When they went out to investigate, they saw a Wynberg police van crashed into Xasana’s friend’s car,” said Arnolds.
When they approached the two occupants, they found that the driver of the police vehicle was not a police officer — but the brother of a Wynberg police officer, he said.
”The men were reeking of alcohol and could hardly stand.
”When Xasana tried to take down their details the two men pulled their weapons out and pointed them at the councillor and his friend, threatening to shoot them if they continued,” said Arnolds.
The drunken men then phoned their colleagues, who quickly arrived, Arnolds said.
He added that police from the Khayelitsha police station arrived and, when they were told of the situation, they merely laughed and moved on.
”It is unacceptable that certain members of the South African Police Service consider themselves above the law and are terrorising our communities at will”.
He said the police did not even check if the driver was drunk.
”We have laid charges with the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) and will demand a full investigation into the incident”, he said.
ICD spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that the ACDP had laid charges against the police officers, but did not have more information on the matter. — Sapa