The National Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has issued an instruction that the police inspector accused of setting his dog on a Mpumalanga man and two other victims be prosecuted.
Titus Mahlase, an alleged housebreaker, claimed that a policeman beat him up, and set a police dog on him, at a Secunda taxi rank. His case is still pending. The SABC then tracked down two more victims who claimed the same policeman and his dog also attacked them. The DPP refused to prosecute Ester Dlamini and Isaac Khoza's case at the end of 2000. No reasons were given.
The Independent Complaints Directorate (IDC) investigated and now the prosecution office has reversed its decision. All three cases will be heard in court. Advocate Karen McKenzie of the IDC, said: "We are happy that the DPP has dealt with the matter and charged the policeman with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm."
McKenzie hopes that victims will now regain their confidence in the law. Secunda police have given the police inspector a notice of intention to suspend him. He has until Friday to give reasons for his actions and as he contemplates his future, the victims prepare to face the man in court.
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