By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Since Matlakala Motaung was violently attacked by two married police officers, she has been unable to walk properly. And all she cares about is justice for her.
She was reportedly hit with a bottle by a famous police captain and his policewoman, all from Alexandra.
The captain works for the Yeoville police station and his wife works for the Alexandra police station.
The two reportedly 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.
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, 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 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.
Next week, on Monday, prior to the trial, the local women vowed to remove their brass in favor of Matlakala.
