By Attie Terblanche | DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality
Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Attie Terblanche and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will take urgent action by requesting the DA Spokesperson on Police in Parliament to conduct an oversight visit to the Heidedal Police Station.
This follows the release of a disturbing video showing South African Police Service (SAPS) officials allegedly assaulting a community member at the station.
The footage has sparked justified outrage among residents and raised serious concerns about the integrity of police officers, who are meant to protect the public and uphold the law. Police stations should be places of safety, yet this incident has further eroded trust in law enforcement.
Although full details of the incident remain unclear, the behaviour of the officers involved is unacceptable. Community members have long raised concerns about poor service delivery at the Heidedal Police Station. Complaints include frequent station closures during night shifts, a lack of vehicles for emergency response, and generally inadequate service delivery.
The DA welcomes the ongoing investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and other internal enquiries. However, investigations alone are not enough—decisive action must be taken to hold those responsible accountable and to restore public confidence in the police.
The DA remains firm in our commitment that no one is above the law. We will continue to fight against police misconduct and ensure that SAPS serves the community with professionalism and integrity.