Picture and Words Mary-Anne Gontsana / GroundUp
Three police officers facing torture charges in the Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town intend to plead not guilty to the charges when the trial starts next year.
Colonel Delmore Manuel, Constable Jermaine Conradie, and Constable Leigh-Ann Maroon are accused of assaulting Juma Igiranieza, a barber, during a raid at his workplace, Perfect Touch Boutique and Salon, in Mowbray on 7 November 2023.
GroundUp published CCTV footage on 10 November showing several officers, one in plain clothes, assaulting Igiranieza. In the footage, at least two officers participated directly in the assault, while other officers appeared unconcerned. Igiranieza was pummelled, struck repeatedly with a wooden object, and smothered with plastic.
On Monday, the accused made a brief appearance before Magistrate Karel Meyer. The trio were arrested on 22 April 2023, and are currently out on R2,000 bail each.
