Kensington SAPS came under attack after arresting suspect for drugs

Kensington police came under attack over the weekend, after residents pelted stones at the officers, to avoid arrest of a suspect.

SCREENSHOT: Suspect handcuffed to the back of the SAPS van

In videos gone viral, it can be seen that the suspect was already handcuffed, and an officer seems like he wanted to place the suspect in the van, but was halted from disgruntled community members. The officers then proceeded by getting in the van and drove off, dragging the suspect whilst handcuffed to the SAPS van.

The police’s Joseph Swartbooi said the suspect was arrested for being in possession of drugs

‘’Preliminary investigation suggest that members attached to Kensington police were busy with crime prevention patrols in their precinct on Saturday 2023-09-09 at around 17:30 when they saw a suspicious man. The members approached the man and upon searching him, found drugs, cocaine and mandrax tablets, in his possession,’’ said  Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi.

‘’Disgruntled community members started pelting the police officers with stones whilst the suspect was already handcuffed. The SAPS members drove to a safe area where they placed the suspect into the holding area of the SAPS vehicle. During the ordeal, members were forced to retrieve to a safe distance as one of the members were struck with a brick against his head and later received medical treatment for the head wound sustained,’’ he added.

Swartbooi said a case of public violence was opened against the suspect and community members. Meanwhile, the suspect will appear before the Cape Town Magistrates court on Monday, on a charge of possession of drugs.

A similar incident occurred in May 2021, when community members in Kensington thwarted officers from arresting an alleged gangster for being in possession of a firearm, in Matroos Plein.

Kensington Community Policing Forum (CPF) condemned the incident.

''We as Kensington CPF condemened the actions that transpired this weekend. We have requested a full investigation and we are awaiting the outcome,. Thereafter we will set up a meeting between Kensington CPF & SAPS regarding the investigation,'' said Reece Abrahams, Kensington CPF Public Relations officer.

Done By: Mitchum George