The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is investigating a case of assault against a police officer who is accused of dragging Helen Zille out of the Fernwood Park Primary School voting station in Bethelsdorp on Monday.
Ipid spokesperson Grace Langa said: “It is reported Mrs Zille was at Fernwood Primary school seen talking to other people around the voting station and one of the people decided to report her to the presiding officer alleging that she is campaigning at the centre.
“The presiding officer allegedly requested that she should stop and she should be removed from the area. That’s when the officers allegedly approached her, pushed her out as well as taking her phone. It is alleged that the same phone taken by police which this man was using to take videos, belongs to Mrs Zille. Cases of assault and theft were opened.”
A video has been doing the rounds on social media since, which shows how Zille is being held under her arms and marched out of the voting station.
Zille can be heard saying “Just take a picture of him.” On the other hand, a bystander can be heard saying “Why are you mishandling her like that.”
Watch it here:
WATCH: Helen Zille was just physically dragged out of a voting station near Port Elizabeth by Police. pic.twitter.com/ba5a6ZzxTR
— Willem Petzer (@willempet) November 1, 2021
Zille took to Facebook on Monday night to elaborate on the situation. She said:
“A burly policeman… approached and before I could say a word, he instructed me to leave. I presented my authorisation, and said I had a right to be there. With that he instructed me to leave, grabbed me and frog-marched me out of the building. I told him to let me go or I would charge him with assault.
“I tried to rip myself free of his grasp but he was very powerful and frog-marched me all the way to the gate. My colleague filmed the last segment of his violence, at which point he lunged over and grabbed her cell phone. She tried to get it back but he turned and went into the building.
“We then drove straight to the Bethelsdorp Police station to lay a charge.”
Read the full statement here:
Picture: Screenshot from video