The manager of the SAHRC in the Free State, Thabang Kheswa, tells OFM News his office will be investigating the incident. On Tuesday, the OFM News team reported on a disturbing video of Tshediso Paul Mohale, hunched over with his hands in cuffs inside a dog cage on a police van. Next to him is a barking dog from the local police’s K9 unit. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports the events surrounding the incident will play out in the Bloemfontein High Court as Mohale seeks R1,5 million in damages for the pain and suffering endured in what his legal representative says is a “dehumanising” and “unlawful” arrest.

Mohale’s legal counsel, Fannie Zim, says four police officers arrested Mohale on 2 November 2019 for dealing in dagga, before raiding his home without a search warrant. It’s further alleged one of the arresting warrant officers made racial slurs when addressing Mohale before detaining him inside a dog cage at the back of a police van. Despite the arrest and raid, the applicant was released from prison two days after the incident and to date, the matter has not been placed on the court roll.

#Exclusive: FS man drags police to court for “doglike” treatment https://t.co/GkY3giQRew pic.twitter.com/d12VTTQ67I

— OFM News (@OFMNews9497) March 16, 2021

The spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), Ndileka Cola, says the directorate, together with the police, are looking into the matter. She says more details will be revealed at a later stage.

Zim says the dignity of his client was violated when racial slurs were allegedly directed at him. Furthermore, his placement inside a dog cage dehumanised him and “caused him suffering, pain and trauma”. Free State police spokesperson, Motantsi Makhele, says: “Police Commissioner Baile Motswenyane regards this matter as very serious, hence she instructed the District Commissioner to, with immediate effect, start with a departmental investigation to probe this matter. For now, we regard the matter as pending, and will allow the legal route to unfold.”

Even more damning is the revelation that Mohale did open a criminal case – 15 days after the incident - regarding the racial slurs allegedly directed at him by the police officers in Hennenman. A detective was assigned to the matter, but to date there have been no updates.

OFM News