Western Cape government officials are investigating a video, which has gone viral, of four alleged thieves being pelted with apples, by people dressed in Law Enforcement uniforms.
In the video, four men stand together against a mountain backdrop as people who are believed to be Theewaterskloof municipality Law Enforcement officers, throw them with apples they allegedly stole.
The 39-second clip shows officers laughing as they blaas the alleged skelms with the fruit.
One thrower can even be heard swearing, “daai n**i” while another asks the men who have their backs facing the officers: “ Wat sien julle daar? Berge?(What do you see there? Mountains?)”
The men cower as the apple missiles hit them, one of them is hit four times in a row.
The video was first shared on the Facebook page Boland Dorpe.
It’s believed the incident took place early last week in Villiersdorp.
It’s also also alleged that there’s a second video which shows the officers stripping one of the men naked and beating them up.
Christelle Vosloo, the mayor of Theewaterskloof Municipality, said she was “devastated” after seeing the video.
“I regard the conduct of the attackers as inhuman and a gross violation of the safety and dignity of their victims,” she says.
“I am devastated that the victims had to endure this trauma and I believe their constitutional rights, not to be exposed to psychological, emotional and physical abuse, had been violated.”
She said an investigation into the incident would be launched immediately.
“I call on the community to give me and the municipality an opportunity to investigate the incident and to deal with it appropriately,” she says.
Vosloo said she will meet with the victims and ensure that they receive “all the support available to deal with the trauma they suffered”.
While some commentators on Facebook slammed the actions of the alleged officers, there were those who supported them.
Brett Darren Retief wrote: “They are thieves, they broke the law! They get away with a slap on the wrist! A guy got caught hotwiring a car in Thailand it was breaking news and he got 50 years, no parole!”
But a disgusted Lahmees Sayed called the officers’ actions “pathetic” adding: “Go to the Cape Flats and try that with the gangsters. But no rather with farm workers. Sick fools.”
Assure
Richard Bosman, executive director for safety and security, said the officers were not employed by the City of Cape Town: “This is not staff of the City , if it was they would be fired, I can assure you.”