The Democratic alliance (DA) in Limpopo is deeply concerned by a video of a traffic officer assaulting and man handling a member of the public. The incident allegedly took place in Jane Furse, Makhuduthamaga.
The video that surfaced on social media platforms yesterday shows the traffic officer slapping and shouting at the man before forcefully throwing him to the ground and then subduing him.
In the video it is not clear what transpired or what events led to the traffic officer’s reaction, but there is no circumstance that should warrant such heavy handedness from a traffic officer on a member of the public.
The conduct displayed by the traffic officer in the video is simply unacceptable and not befitting of someone expected to uphold the rule of law. There is no justification for the traffic officer’s conduct whether the man assaulted in the video had transgressed or not.
The DA condemns the actions of the officer and calls on MEC for Community Safety and Transport Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya and her department to carry out a full investigation into this incident and then sanction the traffic officer in question for their conduct.
The DA is committed to ensuring that there is accountability, especially in cases where officials abuse their power and exert unnecessary force on members of the public.