Four men from Musina are seriously injured and claimed that they were brutally tortured and assaulted by members if the Musina police.

The men said they were kicked, hit with fists, shambocked and sprayed with chemicals in their eyes and private parts by gun-wielding police officers, who wrongfully accused them of having unlicensed firearms.

Arnold Tshifhiwa Murema (25), Tshimangadzo Mbedzi (42), Enos Matsema and Phillemon Nelushi (21) said they had opened assault cases against the police officers who had allegedly assaulted them, but they had not been supplied with case numbers after two weeks.

“We know these officers very well and we don’t understand why action is not taken against them,” says Murema. He suffered a broken leg, sore hips and arms and said he hoped that justice would one day prevail.

Murema’s injuries are so severe that he could not even walk. He said he was asleep when police officers arrived at his home at night and broke down the doors to gain entry.

“They first had a quarrel with my mother and when I went to investigate, they started beating me up, telling me to surrender my gun. I told them I did’t have any gun, but they continued their merciless beatings. They forced me into a waiting police van and took me to the bush where they continued beating me for the whole night until I fainted. They later dumped me on the street about 100m from my home. I could not even walk and some community members called my mother, who phoned an ambulance to take me to hospital.”

Marema’s mother, Mavis, said she went to the police station to open a case against the police officers on behalf of her son.

“Instead, the officers on duty told me he [Murema] had to open a case on his own, but they were so kind to drive with me home and he opened the case while lying on his bed. We have been waiting for the case number since then and we have not heard anything from the police.”

Mr Tshimangadzo Mbedzi said police also came to his house and demanded guns.

“I told them I did not know what they were talking about. They started assaulting me and took me to a police car that was waiting at the gate of my house. They took me to a dense bush near the border and commanded me to sit next to a big baobab tree. They pulled off my shoes and hit me with a cane several times under my feet. They sprayed my private parts and face with a substance and continued beating me until I could not walk. They then dumped me at my house and left. Although I have a valid doctor’s report and the names of the officers who attacked me, I have not received any case number. I think some people are trying to cover up for their colleagues for the wrongs they did.”

Mr Enos Matsema says he will not rest until his attackers are brought to book.

“We know it is against the law for police officers to assault us. They searched my house and car and found nothing. They took me to a farm where they continued beating me with fists and a cane. I have also reported the case and I have a valid doctor’s certificate, but they are not providing me with any case number. Their cover-up will never work.”

In response, Lt Peter Mudau of the Musina SAPS said he would investigate the claims and urged the men to contact the head of the detectives at the police station immediately. He said it was standard procedure that anyone who reported a case should get the case number on the same day.

“We will surely investigate the claims, and if there is any wrongdoing, the law will take its course.”