A policeman accused of brutally assaulting a defenceless boy will not receive his salary starting from this month.

Sowetan learnt yesterday that Warrant Officer Petrus Lefoka, of Vaalwater police station near Modimolle, has been suspended with no pay effective from March 7. His disciplinary hearing is expected to be completed within 60 days.

Lefoka, 45, was captured on a cellphone video while assaulting Norman Mokau, a schoolboy who was drinking at a local tavern on November 24 last year.

Lefoka beat the boy to a pulp until the youngster fainted.

Mokau, 19, is a Grade 10 pupil at Meetsetshehla Secondary School in the area.

The footage also shows Lefoka assaulting Mokau's friend, David Moatshe, 19, while trying to assist the cop to load Mokau into a police van.

Lefoka's suspension letter indicates that the officer will not receive his salary pending finalisation of the case.

He was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Lefoka was also charged internally and is expected to appear before a disciplinary committee next Friday.

Police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said yesterday provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Simon Mpembe had decided to suspend Lefoka without pay due to the severity of the case against him.

Mulaudzi, though, conceded that suspending a person without pay was not something that could be done to everyone.

"The member acted outside the boundaries of the South African Police Act and should he be found guilty he will definitely be kicked out of the service," he said.

Lefoka appeared in the local magistrate's court on Wednesday and was released on warning. He will appear again on May 9.