The South African Communist Party is to lay a complaint with the Independent Complaints Directorate and the South African Human Rights Commission over the alleged assault of David Masondo by police.
Masondo, the chairperson of the Young Communist League, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting police at a roadblock in Johannesburg,
police said.
Constable Neria Malefetse said Masondo was jogging in Sandringham on Wednesday when he allegedly refused to be searched, and was then allegedly assaulted police.
”Apparently there was conflict when police attempted to search him,” said Malefetse.
SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka said the party was appalled by the manner in which Masondo was treated by the police, which included denying him medical attention when he was bruised and bleeding.
”It is precisely this lack of respect of human rights in our policing system that we need to transform.
”It cannot be that our young people cannot walk the streets freely without the fear of being mistaken for criminals and victimised for their darker skin,” he said.
Masondo was charged with assault and interference with police duty.
He was expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. – Sapa