A 40-year-old man claims he was brutally tortured and beaten up by the Makuya police while he was in custody. As a result of the attack, Humbulani Sikhobo said he has bruised eyes and damaged ribs. Now, he wants justice to prevail and steps to be taken against the cops who assaulted him.

"They even pulled up my private parts and they are very painful," said the sobbing Sikhobo of Tshivhilwi-Tshilonwe, north-east of Thohoyandou.

A general underground worker at Exxaro Tshikondeni Mine, Sikhobo told Mirror that there was a soccer tournament at the mine when the cops arrested him for no apparent reason. "They claimed that I teased them, a thing that I did not do. They then forcefully loaded me into their van. When we arrived at the police station, they beat and kicked me all over the body while leading me to the cell."

Sikhobo said he fell down on the floor during the attack. "They did not stop attacking me and they sprayed me with a painful mixture on my face. They then came in large numbers, about ten of them continued beating me up, claiming I was bossy."

He further added that he was locked up on Saturday, but he asked to be taken to hospital on Sunday because the pain was unbearable. "I thought I was going to die and asked them to take me to hospital. Instead, they took me to the Makuya clinic and the nurses told them that they had to take me to Donald Fraser Hospital because my condition was serious. Amazingly, they took me back to the police cell because they were afraid that the cat would come out of the bag."

He continued: "I was charged with interference with police on duty last Monday and I was released on R2 000 bail. I am now considering legal action against the police who beat me up because it was unlawful. I can also point them out if given the chance to do so."

Insp Mashudu Madida of Makuya SAPS said Sikhobo should come out and tell the truth. He said Sikhobo was one of the eight drunken men who were causing havoc by terrorising soccer lovers while smashing beer bottles at the tournament. "Police tried to stop them but they continued disturbing the peace and resisted arrest. After a long time, we managed to arrest them and took them to the police station. At the police station, four of them were cooperative and they were warned and released. The other four, including Sikhobo, became more violent, assaulted the police, damaged property and refused to be escorted to the cells. Police were forced to call backup and we managed to lock them up although they were becoming more violent and aggressive."

He confirmed that Sikhobo and three others were charged with six counts, which include assault on police, resisting arrest, defeating the ends of justice, interference, malicious damage to property and crimen injuria. "They were both released on R2 000 bail."

He said Sikhobo has laid a counter charge of assault at Thohoyandou SAPS. "The court of law will prove whether what he is saying is true or not."