Protester manhandled by City cops slams officials’ ‘racist attitude’
SIX months after wheelchair-bound Zwelenkosi Ngidi was filmed being manhandled by two metro police officers, he says he is not satisfied with the City's handling of the matter.
The incident was caught in a two-minute video believed to be the same day that the Intlungu yaseMatyotyombeni Movement marched to the Cape Town Civic Centre to meet mayor Dan Plato to discuss its grievances about access to water, toilets, electricity and housing. Ngidi was among the protesters.
In the video, he can be heard saying, “Then you must arrest me,” to the officers as they argued.
One of the officers then tips the wheelchair over and Ngidi falls out.
The City suspended the two officers at the time, and this week said an internal investigation was conducted and the Metro Police Department was busy with a disciplinary process.
Metro Police spokesperson Ruth Solomons said: “The City has received a claim and it is being attended to. All due processes must be followed.
“The staff members concerned have been suspended. The SAPS also has its own investigation running.
“The City received a claim from the complainant's legal representatives,” said Solomons.
Speaking to the Cape Times yesterday, Ngidi said during the hearing he continued to be undermined by City officials and its unions. “I was deeply hurt by how I was treated when I attended the hearings. The City and its union were racist towards me and they did not feel any empathy for me.
“What I picked up was that they don't have respect or don't care about disabled people and I assume that was the reason they disrespected me that much. They treated me as if I am nobody.
“The pains got worse ever since the incident and as we speak, I had to be assisted when travelling to the shop because of back pains especially on my spinal cord. There was never a single government official that visited or offered any assistance.
“They made me feel less of a human being, I felt like I was an animal and should regret being part of the protest. I want my case to be heard,” said Ngidi.