Court increases unlawful arrest payout to R50 000 for deceased woman

A NORTH West woman, who was unlawfully arrested and detained, must be compensated to the tune of RSO 000 by the Minister of Police after the Supreme Court of Appeal increased her compensation amount this week.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

The victory in her case, however, comes after the complainant died and was represented in court by the executor of her estate.

The successful appeal came after the aggrieved woman appealed against a court order by the North West Division of the High Court, Mahikeng, which instructed she be paid R15 000 by the minister.

According to the court record, the complainant was arrested on November 11, 2019, at about 6pm when she was at her home in Stella, North West province, while she was with her partner.

“She was arrested with her neighbours looking on, which embarrassed and humiliated her. She was put in the back of the police van in which there was a rifle. The police drove at high speed through potholes and in the darkness to the police station. She experienced pain in her right leg due to an old injury she had sustained. She was frightened,” the judgment read.