Cops hit on wrong suspect

09 October 2009 - 02:00
By Sipho Masombuka

AN UNEMPLOYED Limpopo man was allegedly assaulted by Pretoria detectives looking for Total Surrender Church pastor John Mthunzini, who is wanted for 17 cases of fraud.

AN UNEMPLOYED Limpopo man was allegedly assaulted by Pretoria detectives looking for Total Surrender Church pastor John Mthunzini, who is wanted for 17 cases of fraud.

Alpheus Matlwa of Bela Bela said on September 15 he was mistaken for the fugitive pastor.

"They kept on calling me 'Mthunzini' and would not listen when I told them that I was not Mthuzini," he said.

"They said the Florsheim shoes I was wearing were similar to those of Mthunzini and started assaulting me."

Matlwa said the cops "started arguing before letting me go".

He opened a case of assault at the Bela Bela police station and also reported the matter to the Independent Complaints Directorate.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Abel Phetla confirmed that they were investigating a case of assault.