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Protesting cops to face the full might of the law

Ntwaagae Seleka

Ntwaagae Seleka

Thirty two police officers and prison warders are behind bars after allegedly assaulting a station commander during a protest demanding her dismissal.

The protestors, all members of the police and prisons union, Popcru, were arrested yesterday at the Vaal Rand flying squad headquarters in Vanderbijlpark.

The crowd had been demanding "the immediate removal" of the unit commander, Superintendent Poosha Moodley, who they accused of being a racist.

Lerata Motsiri, Popcru secretary in the area, said they wanted Moodley removed because she allegedly gave preferential treatment to white officers.

He said she had brought division among the police officers.

The protest began at 9am and continued until policemen arrived and arrested their toyi-toying colleagues at about 2pm.

Trudie Wilken, of the Vaal Rand police, said those arrested would face charges of assault, trespassing, contravening the Police Act and disrupting police services.

She said Moodley was assaulted and suffered trauma.

The 32 officers are expected to appear in the Vanderbijlpark magistrates' court today.

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