A Manenberg family is kwaad with City cops after they apparently handcuffed their seven-year-old son and took him on a joyride for allegedly stealing a R5.
The family of Ehiven Prince walked to Manenberg Police Station on Thursday and requested counselling for the laaitie, who has been left severely traumatised and refuses to go back to school.
The Grade 1 pupil from Red River Primary School says Law Enforcement officers told him he was going to jail after the incident and “arrested” him.
Dad, John Morris, 45, says on 16 October, he came home from work when his wife, Lee-Ann Prince, 32, told him what had happened.
“I was at work and when I came home, his mom told me that a girl at the school came to tell her Ehiven was arrested,” he says.
“She went to the school and we spoke to him at home and got a skrik when he told us that him and other boys were accused of stealing R5 from a wallet and that he alone was handcuffed.”
Holding his wrists, the scared laaitie told the Daily Voice: “ Hulle het gesê ek het die geld gevat en ek gaan nou tronk toe.
“They put me inside a white van and drove to [Nyanga] Junction, where they bought a gatsby and then they took me back to school.”
TRAUMA: Ehiven illustrates handcuffing. Picture: Monique Duval
His angry father says he went to the school to get answers, but was told the matter was being probed.
“They just said it is under investigation, but I want to know why they handcuff a child?” he asks.
“He told me that an older boy took the wallet, but I still think to handcuff him is very harsh.
“My child is scared of police now and doesn’t want to go to school anymore.”
Acting executive director for Safety and Security, Ian Schnetler, says Law Enforcement is aware of the situation and is in contact with the school, the pupil’s family as well as the officers involved to ascertain what exactly happened.
“This is a sensitive situation that extends beyond the incident mentioned, and we are trying to deal with it in the appropriate manner.
“In the event that it is found any City staff member acted improperly, corrective action will be taken.”
But John says: “They [City] never contacted me and this is the first time that we hear the child was in trouble at school.”