By Staff Reporter
MAGATLE – A group of police officers from Magatle Police Station are under scrutiny after the wrongful arrest and alleged assault of three learners from Piet Aphane Secondary School in Magatle village, Zebediela.
The incident, which has sparked outrage among the community, revolves around a missing cell phone that led to a serious case of mistaken identity.
The troubling sequence of events began when a learner reported his cell phone missing to the school’s principal. The student, whose father is a police officer at Magatle Police Station, accused three fellow learners of stealing his phone.
Despite being summoned to the principal’s office for questioning, the accused learners firmly denied any involvement.
A week later, the situation escalated unexpectedly when the father of the learner, accompanied by other police officers, arrived at the school with two police vans. The three accused learners were arrested and taken to Magatle Police Station.
At the station, the learners allege they were subjected to physical assault and torture by the police, despite maintaining their innocence throughout the ordeal.
The mistreatment reportedly lasted for three hours, after which they were released and forced to walk home with their injuries. Shockingly, the parents of the learners were not informed about their arrest or subsequent release.
In a further twist, it was later discovered that the missing cellphone was found in the possession of another learner who had not been accused or arrested.
The parents of the assaulted learners, outraged by the treatment of their children, attempted to seek answers from both the school and the Magatle Schools Circuit. However, their efforts were met with silence, as neither the school staff nor the circuit officials provided any information or assistance.
The learners were eventually taken to Magatle Hospital for medical treatment, with one of them reportedly suffering severe damage to his lungs, allegedly caused by the torture and chemical sprays used during their time at the police station.
As the community awaits a formal response from authorities, there is growing concern over the conduct of the police officers involved and the apparent lack of accountability.
The families of the victims are now seeking justice, demanding that those responsible for the wrongful arrest and assault be held accountable for their actions.
