By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Today, Captain Rabutapi Mamalo of the Yeoville Police Station and his wife Helen Mamabolo, who works for the Alex Police as a clerk, appeared briefly before the Alexandra Magistrates Court.
Unfortunately, Matlakala Motaung who had waited patiently since the morning, was disappointed to learn that the docket containing her case, disappeared into the thin air.
Matlakala was reportedly beaten with a bottle by the captain. His wife also allegedly joined him to attack her.
She has been unable to walk properly since the incident. And all she cares about is justice for her.
The two allegedly took turns attacking Matlakala after their daughter accused the victim of insulting her.
Alex Reporter has seen the case number opened at Alex police. The incident occurred on October 31st around noon at Extension 10 where the victim and the alleged culprits live.
Thalita Maleka, a friend of Matlakala, said they were sitting outside discussing general matters when the officer’s daughter passed by.
A few minutes later, the police officer, accompanied by his wife and daughter, allegedly went to the place where they had been seated and asked why they were insulting their daughter.
“It surprised us. A dispute followed and the man took a bottle of beer that was around, hit my friend in the head. When she fell, he kicked her repeatedly while she was down, trying to crawl,” says Thalita.
Thalita says the policewoman caught Matlakala with her dreadlocks and dragged her and fell again, resulting in numerous scratches in her elbows.
Matlakala (52) alleged that after the two cops horribly noticed that she was opening a case, the captain bribed her with 30,000.
She was supposed to drop the GBH charge assault case.
“I can’t sell my soul and my dignity for thirty thousand,” she says.
She said the cop told her he’d make things worse. She’d have a tough life if she didn’t cancel the case. She was also allegedly told that the case would not lead to anything because he is a high ranking officer.
Matlakala lives ten blocks from the cops.
“I feel unworthy of being beaten in the streets for heresy by their child. I am embarrassed because we stay on the same street,” says Matlakala.
She said they were detained and released the same day. When they appeared in court recently, the prosecutor was reportedly seen walking happily with the perpetrators.
“Both laughed after the mediation, saying: I am a drunkard and barren with no money. My grief is when they lie and say they never attacked me. This is not the first time they have attacked my family by telling me they are police officers.”
The freelance artist and extras from Skeem Saam say she doesn’t feel protected as part of the community. She has now undertaken a silent demonstration each afternoon as part of her grieving for what happened to her.
Matlakala is the author, filmmaker and founder of Indigenous Games Alex.
Station commander, Brigadier Magudulela said: ” It can’t be. Let’s check tomorrow at Court. There is Captain Van Graan at court. I will check with him. If it’s true, it will mean there is corruption involved. I will interview the complainant to hear from her if she was offered bribe money to withdraw the case. It is a an offence and I will open another case.”
