Africa-Press – South-Africa. A KwaZulu-Natal police officer has been arrested after he was caught on video kicking seven men as they lay on the ground.
According to Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson Robbie Raburabu, the arrest was made on Monday following investigations into a video that was circulating on social media.
The video, which dates back to August, shows Sergeant Sibusiso Xolani Kunene, 46, “brutally assaulting and kicking” the men while they lie on their stomachs on the side of the road.
He walks towards the men, holding a rifle, and appears to speak with one of them before he kicks him in the face. The officer then kicks a second and third man in the same way.
There are several other men dressed in police uniforms in the video.
KwaZulu-Natal police had not responded to News24 queries into the matter at the time of publication.
“The incident is alleged to have happened on 22 August 2023 on the N11 in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal. Two victims are alleged to have lost some teeth and others sustained some bruises. IPID got together a team to investigate the allegations,” said Raburabu.
The investigation culminated in Kunene’s arrest on Monday.
Kunene is a detective stationed in Newcastle and is attached to the Amajuba district task team.
Raburabu said the sergeant appeared in court on Tuesday, facing five counts of assault, and was released on R1 000 bail.
The case was postponed to 22 September for further investigation.
“There is a possibility of more arrests being effected, with more charges added as investigations continue,” said Raburabu.
The Newcastle incident took place a month after eight Presidential Protection Services police officers were arrested for assaulting Johannesburg motorists on the N1 highway in Gauteng.
The officers were charged with assault, malicious damage to property and pointing a firearm.
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