An investigation has been launched after a video emerged of a father and son being handled by officers.
The KwaDukuza municipality confirmed in a statement that it was aware of the video being widely circulated on social media and was apparently taken on Shaka’s Rock in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.
“We want to make it clear immediately that we do not accept or allow any form of violence against our residents, especially women and children.”
In the video, two officers walk into a residential complex and one of the officers grabs a boy by the hand and starts walking away with the boy. The boy’s father came running after him and tried to take his son to the officers. “Take your hands off this child. Someone called the police, ”yelled the man taking the video.
Here is the full video. pic.twitter.com/ua6noiCkDP
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 11, 2020
The father takes the child to the officers, after which he is handcuffed. The child ran away crying as a woman approached with two more children. The officers then stand with the handcuffed man at the gate of the complex while children cry in the background.
According to the municipality, he is currently conducting an internal investigation to determine the facts of the incident and is aware of the “emotional issues” the video has elicited.
The municipality also says it will issue an official statement after communicating with all stakeholders.
“We call for calm and cooperation in our community as we try to deal with this issue.”