The Independent Police Investigating Directorate (Ipid) has launched an investigation after a man was allegedly dragged behind a police vehicle while handcuffed in Kensington over the weekend.
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The incident happened at around 6pm on Friday and was caught on a video that has been widely circulated on social media.
In the video, a man is seen handcuffed to the back of the SAPS vehicle with two uniformed officers standing beside him.
Residents can be heard shouting at the officers, who ignore them before speeding off with the man in tow.
In an interview with SowetanLive, Milosh Basson, the man allegedly seen being detained by police in the video, said that he was dragged for two kilometres before the officers stopped and assaulted him further.
Viral videos show police officers handcuffing a suspected drug dealer to the back of a police van and dragging him through the streets of a Cape Town suburb. @SAPoliceService #CrimeWatch pic.twitter.com/GyGrPchkFq
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 12, 2023
His legal representative, Keegan Lasker, said Basson was left bloodied and bruised in the back of the vehicle for hours after the incident, adding that he was only able to see his client after 10pm on Friday.
It is believed that Basson was accused of being in possession of drugs and resisting arrest during a crime prevention operations.
Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi told the Mail & Guardian that community members started pelting the police officers with stones whilst the suspect was already handcuffed, explaining that the SAPS members drove to a safe area where they placed the suspect into the holding area of the SAPS vehicle.
He added that the officers were forced to retreat to ‘a safe distance’ after a brick struck one of them in the head.
Meanwhile, Ipid spokesperson Robbie Raburabu said investigations were underway and that they would be taking a statement from Basson on Friday.
‘Preliminary investigations indicate that three members will be investigated,’ Raburabu confirmed.
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Picture: Screenshot