The KwaDukuza municipality on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has released two “peacekeepers” from the allegations against them.
The municipality’s verdict follows a video that was widely shared on social media showing how two officers of the municipality were involved in a dispute with a man outside his residential complex.
In the video, an officer grabs the man’s four-year-old child by the hand and pulls him away. The man then grabs his son and orders him to run to his sister’s house.
“The municipality can confirm that the child was treated in the video according to the Children’s Act. It is the officer’s responsibility, as in this case, to ensure the child’s safety and take him to a place of safety. The officers did not abuse the child, ”said a statement from the municipality.
About the man’s arrest, the municipality says officers have received complaints about people who violate disaster management law.
“The officers observed people, as well as children, on the beach. This is not allowed under Level 4 of the national restriction, ”the statement states.
On Tuesday, it was reported the man, his two children, his neighbor and his child walked to the beach on Sunday morning. Armed officers awaited the man when they returned and arrested him, as well as his neighbor.
The municipality confirmed in the statement that the man was one of 11 people arrested for being on the beach.
“There were also seven children. Four of the children were taken safely to their homes while the other three children were in the process of being handed over to their homes, as seen in the video, ”the statement states.
