Hanover Park mom slams cops for assault on teen son as Ipid confirms probe
The 18 year old boy was allegedly beaten by Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) police officers.
Image: Supplied
After an alleged assault by Anti-Gang Unit officers, a Hanover Park mother reveals her son's severe injuries and calls for justice
His mom, Nerida Swartz, told the Cape Argus' sister newspaper, the Daily Voice, that the incident occurred on February 5, after she sent her 18-year-old son, Ugan de Lily, to the local tuck shop between 8pm and 9pm in Surwood Walk, Hanover Park.
The shop is a three-minute walk from their home, and a friend accompanied the teen.
She said panic broke out when children living at the court ran to her house shouting that the police had taken him.
She explained: “So his daddy, his sister, and I went around and asked what was happening, and most of those police officers were so rude.
“They pushed my husband away, behind one of the vans and smacked him all over his face. They pushed us into one of the neighbours’ yards and they swore at us."
The mother claimed the police officers swore at them and hurled abuse.
She said several residents, including alleged gang members who were standing on the corner at the shop, were taken into the premises by cops.
She added: “They hit my son, his friend, and the gangsters.
“One of the gangsters told the cops that my son isn’t a gangster, but they told him to keep his mouth and they just kept on smacking my son.
“Eventually when Ugan was released, he could not walk. We basically had to carry him to the court.”
She said he had injuries to his face, bruised ribs, and blood stains on his clothes due to a bloody nose and that family members had to carry him home after the cops left.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed that they are aware of the incident.
Shuping said: “The case was reported during the weekend, and the case docket will be investigated by IPID.”
He sustained bruises on his rib cage.
Image: Supplied
This is the second complaint lodged by residents in Surwood Walk against AGU cops in less than a month.
On January 14, the Cape Argus' sister newspaper told the story of a mom claimed AGU cops trashed her home and left her four-year-old daughter traumatised.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property was registered following this incident.
Meanwhile, 11 AGU members face charges of murder and torture, among other charges, following the death of alleged gang member Wade Price in December of last year.
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