SAPS to pay R1.8m for assaulting man

THE words “some police are useless”, spoken by an innocent civilian to a friend, within earshot of police officers, which resulted in his vicious attack, undignified treatment and abuse at the hands of SAPS officials, will cost the taxpayer R1.8 million.

- ZELDA VENTER

“Their conduct violated the constitutional mandate, which defines their role, and which they ought to embrace with pride,” an acting judge of the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg remarked. This was after Ramothopo Ratshwene turned to court to claim damages from the police following his harrowing ordeal when he was severely assaulted by some officials who took umbrage at him describing some as useless.

Acting Judge B Ford, in ordering against the police, remarked: “Sadly, their unlawful conduct has now given rise to a delictual claim of considerable financial proportions, which must, most unfortunately, be paid for from an already strained public purse.”

The judge added that this judgment intends to achieve several purposes, including to impress on the SAPS officers the importance of their role within the landscape of the country’s constitutional democracy.