Manenberg student speaks out against police after on-camera incident
Storm Munro, a design student from Manenberg, confronts police officers in a viral video that raises questions about police conduct and accountability.
Image: Supplied
A video doing the rounds on social media showing a Manenberg student telling police officers he is not a gangster has stirred major controversy, with some people claiming he provoked the officers into assaulting him.
Storm Munro, a design student and part-time videographer and video editor, said on October 30 around 1pm he packed his bag to go to his uncle’s house to do some work before officers arrived at their court.
What happened next was filmed by a number of residents, with Munro also sharing a recording he took on his own. In it, he says that he is not a gangster as officers manhandle him. When they leave, he shouted that they don’t know who they are ‘f*g with”.
Another angle showed the triggered armed officers turn back, pepper spray him and one stomps on Munro’s head. He explained: “Upon leaving my home, I was packing my laptop into my bag and at that moment, I made eye contact with a police officer heading up the staircase in front of my house.
“As I closed my bag, a police officer rudely called me to search my bag, and in that moment, I asked for justification as to what warrants a search. “I told them that I am a student, and an officer then responded ‘So, what?’ The officer could not provide a reasonable answer, so I proceeded to show my laptop in my bag.
Storm Munro was accosted by police officers last week.
Image: Supplied
“Furthermore, after voluntarily showing my laptop in my bag, multiple officers approached me and manhandled me; they proceeded to violently hold me and took my bag while continuing to search it without consent.”
He said the way he was treated left him in a state of anger which led to him swearing at the cops.
Munro added: “I expressed multiple sentiments, with the last one being ‘you guys are pieces of s***,’ which led them to turn back toward me. One officer then punched me in my right eye, and another proceeded to demobilise me to the floor. “Afterward, multiple officers kicked me, and someone pepper-sprayed me while I was lying on the ground.”
While some people online reckon the youngster provoked the officers, his father, Owen, said they weren’t there to see what really went down.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “The matter you are referring to is the subject of an investigation by Ipid [Independent Police Investigative Directorate]; please forward your enquiry to their communication department for a suitable response.” Ipid did not respond by time of publication.