A Marikana resident, Sinoxolo Kana (27), has recounted a harrowing tale of alleged police brutality, claiming he was viciously assaulted by officers in Philippi East, Cape Town. Kana, who arrived in the city only in May 2024, described the incident as a "rude welcome" to his new home.
The alleged assault, which involved a sjambok beating, a brick to the chest, and a kick to the groin, has left him deeply traumatised and fearful of reporting the incident.
The incident unfolded on 29 September 2024, outside a local shebeen. Kana explained that he was simply on his way to purchase alcohol for consumption at home when he encountered police officers ordering the establishment to close.
"I wasn't even in the shebeen but walking towards it when a cop approached me. Before I could say much, two other cops arrived from a pathway between the shacks and asked me why I was outside. I explained that I wanted to buy booze and go back home since I was already drinking at home," Kana recounted.
His explanation, however, was met with immediate violence.
"They responded with a sjambok on my back," he said.
The assault escalated quickly, with a female officer allegedly inflicting particularly brutal injuries.
"The female cop hit me with a half-brick on my chest, then I fell to the ground, and she kicked me on my manhood," Kana alleged.
He displayed visible sjambok welts on his buttocks to a Daily Sun reporter, further substantiating his claims of the assault.
Despite being on the ground and pleading for mercy, the alleged beating continued unabated.
"While on the ground, the beating didn’t stop until another cop asked them to let me go," Kana stated.
"They told me to run and not look back. So, I ran, but I was in pain."
Even as he begged for forgiveness, Kana claimed his pleas were ignored.
"I was asking them to forgive me for whatever they may think I had done, but they didn’t listen to my cries," he said.
Following the assault, Kana returned home and confided in his brother, who subsequently shared the story on social media. This online post brought the incident to wider attention, but Kana's fear of reprisal has prevented him from filing a formal complaint. He admitted to not knowing the names of the officers involved nor the details of their vehicle, further complicating the process of reporting the crime.
"I haven’t opened a case for fear of being targeted by the same cops," Kana confessed.
His reluctance to report the assault underscores a significant problem within the community – a fear of retaliation that silences victims and allows perpetrators to operate with impunity.
When contacted for comment, police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk offered standard procedure advice
“In order for him to get assistance, he must go to the nearest cop shop and open a criminal case,”said Captain Frederick Van Wyk.
While this statement provides a formal response, it fails to address the underlying issue of Kana's fear and the potential need for additional support and protection for victims of police brutality who may be hesitant to come forward due to justified fears of reprisal.
