Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
ZIMBABWE’S embassy in South Africa is looking at circumstances leading to the assault of a Zimbabwean cross-border bus driver by three police officers in the neighbouring country on Thursday last week.
Mr Raison Mufuka, a Devine Star bus driver, was assaulted at the Hammanskraal area after refusing to pay a R2 000 bribe for an alleged road traffic offence along the N1 highway.
The man was captured on a video by other motorists while receiving a thorough beating while handcuffed between the bus and the trailer.
The country’s Consul-General to Johannesburg, Mrs Melody Chaurura said they were still gathering the facts on the ground pending further action.
“We have been made aware of the case and at this stage, we are still gathering the facts around the matter on the ground. This will guide us on our next course of action in line with the relevant communication channels,” said the Consul-General.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Mufuka said he had injuries on his mouth, both hands and was experiencing chest pains as a result of the beating.
“We were travelling towards Johannesburg when we were intercepted by traffic police soon after the Hammanskraal tollgate, just before Pretoria along the N1 highway at around 8AM on August 26,” he said.
“The bus had only five people including myself and the other four crew members. The police officers detained us for four hours at the roadblock. They accused me of violating traffic rules and demanded a bribe of R2 000, which I told them I did not have. The three police officers then threatened to impound the bus”.
Mr Mufuka said the police officers told him to drive the bus to the police station along with several motorists they had arrested.
Along the way, he said, the cops disappeared and he stopped the bus and parked at the roadside and got out.
He said three police officers returned and dragged him behind the bus.
They handcuffed him between the trailer and the bus and took turns to assault him.
“I tried to plead with them to stop but they ignored me and later bundled me into their vehicle with the bus crew,” said Mr Mufuka.
“We were taken to Themba Police Station in the same area and detained for four days, before being taken to court.
To cover up for the assault, they falsely claimed I had assaulted one of them, was carrying border jumpers, and had failed to comply with traffic regulations. However, the charges did not stick in court and I was released.”
He said three bus crew members who were accused of not having stamped passports were fined R1 000 each and released.
Efforts to get a comment from the Gauteng provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo were in vain yesterday. — @tupeyo
Online Reporter