/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Democratic Alliance in Tlokwe is concerned at the alleged police brutality reports that surfaced after the arrest of three community members who appeared in court today, Wednesday 16 September 2015.

The arrests follows the residents alleged involvement in violent protests in Ventersdorp over the weekend. They were charged with public violence and released, but were rearrested at home a few hours later.

They complained that police kicked their doors, used excessive force, pointed them with guns and claimed that they were acting “in an operation we use all the resources allocated to it”.

The DA however welcomes an investigation into the criminal activity during the protest and the burning of the municipal buildings. But, we strongly condemn the police behaviour.
 
We cannot allow the police to become a political playball between communities and the ANC.

The DA also notes the recent utterances by the provincial ANC and SACP and also echoed by COGTA Minister Pravin Gordhan that proper consultative processes were followed in the Potchefstroom - Ventersdorp demarcation debacle. Minister Gordhan will, as the second respondent in a DA court application, have the opportunity to repeat this allegation under oath.

Issued by DA