I WAS ASSAULTED, STRANGLED BY COPS - FEMALE TEACHER

MANZINI – A parked vehicle, with people standing near it was enough to irk police officers who allegedly assaulted and strangulated a female teacher on Sunday morning.

Information gathered from statements recorded by Thulisile Mkhonta (33) of KaKhoza, a teacher by profession, is that she had been parked with her friends near the Y2K Building along the Riverstone Mall-Satellite Public Road when traffic officers arrived and demanded to know who the driver of the vehicle was.

“We were there with female friends and only one male, whom they did not bother questioning. The team of officers first asked who the owner of the car was and I told them it was mine. They then ordered that I produce a driver’s licence, which I did. This was after I had requested one of my friends to give me the car keys as the vehicle was parked and locked. One of the officers then demanded that I take a breath test. I was shocked because I was not at all driving the vehicle but my friend who was within the group was,” alleged Mkhonta.

She added that despite informing the police that she was not the one who had been driving the vehicle, they became violent. She said they were all questioned by the police about their motive and she was further ordered inside the police van after refusing to provide a breath test.

“At the time, the officers had started manhandling me and uttering derogatory statements. I decided to run to another direction as I feared for my life. The police chased after me and assaulted me with kicks and fists and further strangled me until I almost ran out of breath. I insisted that I would not get inside their vehicle. They forced me inside but when they realised that I was refusing to do so, they called for back-up and more police officers came to the scene. The assaulted and insults continued. They further told me that they would tow my car to the police station,” Mkhonta alleged.

After refusing to take the breath test and resisting arrest, she was eventually bundled into the police van which was their locked and statements recorded from other witnesses. Mkhonta was later driven from Manzini to Mafutseni Police Station where she was detained in a holding cell, pending her court appearance.
She also alleged she was not taken to hospital for medical check-up by the police despite requesting them to do so.
During Mkhonta’s court appearance before Senior Magistrate Sindisile Zwane, her clothes were full of dust and she had bruises which she later showed to relatives outside the courtroom. Her arms also had handcuff marks.

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