Africa-Press – South-Africa. A Johannesburg woman has accused her former boyfriend of abusing his power as a police officer by having her arrested only because she initially laid assault charges against him.
Hlengiwe Stella Ndima had Mlungisi Ronald Chauke arrested for allegedly assaulting her on 20 November 2022 when they were returning from Hartbeespoort.
“We had gone away for the weekend to celebrate my birthday. We drove there in my car, and he had left his vehicle parked at his workplace. When we returned, I asked when he was fetching his vehicle at the police station so I’d have my car back as I was going to work.
“After asking him that, he hit me with a fist [over] my right eye. And while I was still trying to understand what was happening, he reached for his firearm in my handbag, which was by my feet [on] the passenger’s [side]. He hit me with the back part of a firearm (the butt) three times and then I started bleeding,” Ndima alleged.
She said Chauke then left and took her car keys and his firearm.
A woman who saw the incident stopped to help Ndima. She called the police for help and informed the Community Policing Forum (CPF).
Ndima said:
Ndima was only successful in opening a case at the Booysens police station on 3 January this year, she said.
Chauke was arrested and appeared in court.
He is scheduled to return to court on 14 March.
But, to her surprise, Chauke opened an assault and malicious damage to property case against Ndima.
Police called her to the Diepkloof police station and told her to bring a lawyer and bail money, she said.
“I didn’t understand what was going on, but I complied and told my lawyer everything. Then [I] went to the police station.”
She said she was detained in a holding cell for a few hours until she appeared in the Orlando Magistrate’s Court, where she was released on bail. However, she had to pay her lawyer R5 000. The case was postponed to 29 March.
Ndima, however believes the case against her is aimed at intimidating her. She believes Chauke abused his position as a police officer.
Ndima said:
News24 asked Chauke for comment on Ndima’s allegations.
Initially, he offered “no comment” but later referred News24 to his lawyer.
The lawyer, who identified himself only as Maluleke, confirmed the counter-case against Ndima.
He said Ndima had smashed Chauke’s phone, which prompted Chauke to open the case.
However, he added that they knew nothing about Chauke abusing his power.
He said:
Police spokesperson Dimakatso Sello confirmed that both cases would go to court.
Commenting on the allegation that police refused to open a case at Ndima’s request, Sello said “it is advised that they lay a formal complaint with the station commander so that the matter can be investigated”.
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