Using social media for good. Police who were caught on camera assaulting a driver are being investigated thanks to Facebook post.
Carmen Bell witnessed a driver being assaulted by JMPD at the entrance of the Mall of Africa in Midrand & immediately recorded a video this morning which she posted online.
The video on Facebook has been viewed & shared over 200 000 times shows the police officer violently taking the gents car away for apparently not having his plates on.
Carmen uploaded the video with this post:
UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT BY JMPD.
So I took this Video this morning at the entrance to the Mall of Africa. As I rummaged through my bag to get my phone out, these JMPD members had already punched, pushed and kicked this person to the floor and the tall metro cop was hitting and kicking him on the ground.
From the video you see how they physically assaulted this person after he refused to be arrested for not having number plates (not sure what the law states regarding whether driving without number plates is a criminal offence or just warrants a fine?).
Either way, the tall officer then threatens this person and proceeds to “steal” his vehicle and drives off only to return when the other officers warn him that I am videoing.
The female officer also wanted me to stop recording but I duly explained that it is my legal right to video an assault on a member of public.
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I gave my card to this gentleman so not sure of his name but this completely unacceptable.
This poor man was SO frightened he could barely speak because he was ganged up on by 3 officers.
The tall officer was blatant in his physical abuse and he is a shining example of the power trip that members of JMPD are on.
It was disgusting and so scary to watch!
After only a day of trending & being shared, Carmen posted another update to let everyone know that some good had come from sharing the video.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar is taking the matter very seriously & has made contact with everyone involved to let them know the police officers in question are being investigated.
So we are all quick to complain and share negative feedback so here is some positive on the video I loaded today…
Wayne Minnaar has made contact to investigate what happened today and I salute him for this.
He has stood up for the position he holds and I look forward to seeing this incident addressed.
It goes to show that social media is a powerful tool and that if all South Africans work together, we can handle any situation.
Wayne Minnaar An investigation is underway by JMPD Internal Affairs Unit with regards to the video.
A statement is needed from the motorist who is involved in the squabble. The contact is 0113555911
On the down side a JMPD officer died trying to stop a taxi driver driving illegally sad indeed
Of course nothing will ever happen here. Mr Wayne Minnaar does not genuinly care about the public. If he did these officer thugs (and all officer thugs) from the JMPD who are caught in criminal activities should be charged internally (as well as externally) and the officer given the option of either resigning or redoing their training from scratch.
Wayne Minnaar needs to do some serious work if he wants the public to start respecting his officers. Until that starts to happen the growing contempt for the JMPD will continue to rise.
They need to fire the lot of them! Start the process of employing the right people for the job. Those fired can reapply and can be re-employment if they have a good record and fit the new criteria.
Whatever they were taught were forgotten…I could flag the race card but let’s not go there. I can sympathize with the victim in this recording as my number plates were also stolen last month, I had to go two days without plates while trying to get money to replace my stolen plates.
naturally there will be those who will say police brutality is an international phenomenon.