Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Naledi Chirwa-Mpungose has broken her silence following her arrest at Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria, accusing a senior police officer of assaulting her and initially preventing her from opening a case against him.
In a statement shared publicly on Saturday, 10 October, Chirwa said she had sought medical attention to document her injuries and had eventually succeeded in laying a complaint against Colonel Dintwe, the officer she accuses of assault.
The incident reportedly began on Thursday, 8 October, when a dispute at the police station escalated into a confrontation that resulted in Chirwa’s arrest. Police have also accused her of assaulting an officer.
The competing accounts have raised questions about what happened inside the station and how the matter will proceed through the criminal justice system.
Chirwa says she was denied the right to open a case
Chirwa said she had made repeated attempts to report the alleged assault before she was eventually allowed to open a case.
“I’ve been to the emergency room and got all injuries documented after an undesirable incident at Brooklyn Police Station on Thursday late afternoon and evening,” she said.
She alleged that it took two attempts over two days before she was permitted to register a complaint against Colonel Dintwe.
“After two attempts over two days trying to open a case of assault against a police officer, I finally was granted my right to report a case against Colonel Dintwe today, who assaulted me for demanding services and attempting to record a video of him refusing and turning me back,” she said.
Chirwa further alleged that she was detained and later released before the situation escalated again.
“After being informed of who I was when I was unduly detained, the perpetrator panicked, released me and wanted to have a ‘conversation’ to which I refused and opted for things to unfold in accordance to the law,” she said.
She claimed the officer subsequently laid a case against her, resulting in her being detained again.
“He then decided to lay a case against me, detain me again and involve the media in attempt to protect himself and control the narrative for his undue and violent actions against me,” she alleged.
Her allegations have not, on their own, established that an assault occurred as described. The claims will need to be tested through the appropriate investigative and legal processes.
Police give a different account of the incident
Preliminary reports indicate that the confrontation began when Chirwa requested that an affidavit that had already been signed be commissioned at the station.
According to police, she was informed that an affidavit must be signed in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths. The disagreement allegedly escalated, with police accusing her of assaulting an officer.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi reportedly confirmed that the woman was released on a warning and was expected to appear before the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 12 October.
The police account differs significantly from Chirwa’s version, which centres on her allegation that she was denied a service and assaulted when she challenged the officer’s conduct.
The allegations against both parties remain matters for investigation. An arrest or accusation does not, by itself, establish guilt.
‘An all too familiar experience for many South Africans’
Chirwa also used the incident to raise broader concerns about how members of the public are treated when seeking services from state institutions.
She said she was particularly troubled by what she described as being turned away when she requested assistance, only to receive the same service later at the same police station.
“It is also very telling that the very same service I was being denied of at 17:00 at Brooklyn Police Station, I received on the same day close to midnight at the same police station. A clear demonstration that I was merely being frustrated,” she said.
She added that the experience reflected a problem that many South Africans encounter when dealing with public institutions.
“An all too familiar experience for many South Africans,” she said.
Chirwa argued that people should not have to struggle to access services to which they are legally entitled, particularly when dealing with institutions responsible for protecting their rights.
“I detest refusal of services with every fibre of my being. Too many people have wallowed in hopelessness due to being turned back for their basic human rights that they are entitled to. This must not be normalised,” she said.
She also called for accountability from public servants, regardless of their rank or social standing.
“And no matter your rank, your position in society or your bank balance, when you serve the people, you must do so with humility, respect and compassion. If these are too much an ask, then you’re not meant to be a public servant,” she said.
Chirwa says she wants the law to take its course
Despite the controversy surrounding her arrest and the allegations against the police officer, Chirwa said she welcomed the prospect of the matter being resolved through the legal system.
“I am more than pleased that the law will now take its course. Lies have short legs and truth stands the test of time,” she said.
The case places the conduct of both the police officer and the politician under scrutiny. Investigators will need to establish what happened during the confrontation, including the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault, the arrest and Chirwa’s subsequent complaint.
The matter also comes amid continuing public concern about police accountability and the treatment of people who seek assistance at police stations.
