assault
Luvuyo Kakaza
A human rights radio producer, Toto Futa, has laid charges against the sheriff of the Soweto West court after he was brutally assaulted last week.
Futa says the sheriff was sent to confiscate goods from his home on the grounds that payments for municipal services was in arrears.
He says he was at home drafting a human rights programme for the newly licensed Tropical Radio community station when about 11 sheriffs arrived “like vigilantes”.
“I was reluctant to open the door for them as I was robbed and assaulted a couple of months back. I wanted to know why they were confiscating goods when my mother has been paying for services. After a long argument I asked for identity [documents] but they refused to show me any. I then allowed one of the sheriffs in to call his superior so I could speak to them,” says Futa.
He claims that while he was on the phone the other sheriffs burst into the house and began harassing him. They confiscated his mother’s refrigerator, a room divider and a television set. During the process, he claims, they broke ornaments.
“One of the sheriffs slapped me on my face and when I slapped him back the whole mob attacked me. They kicked me hard and left me with a bruised body,” Futa claims.
“I’m a human rights activist, and I’ve been attacked and assaulted twice now. This shows that the public, especially civil servants, have a lot to learn about human rights. We need more radio programmes that will address human rights issues.”
Soweto West’s chief sheriff, Henry Motau, said his staff never assault anyone. He refused to identify sheriffs who were sent to confiscate goods at Futa’s home.
Futa reported the case to the police and his mother informed a local councillor who also claims that the sheriffs were rude to him.
“They were arrogant and refused to identify themselves. They threatened to deal with me if I tried to stop them from doing their job,” says councillor Geoffrey Myezo.
Myezo said the sheriffs were “a bunch of hooligans” who gave the council a bad reputation. He did not understand why they were confiscating belongings from residents as there was an agreement between the council and defaulters to pay arrears in affordable amounts.
“We agreed that a notice should be posted to defaulters if they fail to pay before anything can be confiscated from their homes. Futa never received this notice and the sheriffs have no rights to beat up anyone.”
Myezo said he would take up the issue with the council.