IPID spokesperson, Ndileka Cola, tells OFM News, IPID has been notified of the incident and the investigation into the matter has gotten underway. Cola promises that more details will be unveiled at a later stage. 

Chapter nine institution, the South African Human Rights Commission (Sahrc) has also launched its own probe, with an investigator already assigned to the case. 

The video in question shows Tshediso Paul Mohale – nabbed for dealing in dagga in November 2019 - hunched over with his hands in cuffs inside the dog cage which is atop a police van. Next to him is a barking dog from the local police’s K9 unit. Mohale is now in the middle of launching his own civil suit against police.  

Mohale’s legal counsel, Fannie Zim, says they have already filed their application with the Bloemfontein High Court. They allege that on 2 November 2019, four police officers arrested Mohale 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 in the dog cage. 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 a court roll.

Mohale opened a case with police regarding the racial slurs, but there are yet to be any new developments.

Zim says the dignity of his client was violated when racial slurs were 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”. 

The SAHRC’s provincial manager, Thabang Kheswa, has condemned the incident.

OFM News