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S. Africa's police urge EFF leader to report alleged intimidation

Xinhua, April 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko on Monday urged Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), to report alleged intimidation to police for investigation.

Nhleko said he has noted the reports of alleged intimidation of Malema by police.

Malema claimed he was harassed by police in Sandton, Johannesburg on Sunday. He tweeted that he was stopped by an unmarked van and was surrounded by a group of police officers who pointed guns at his car and blocked off the entire intersection.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party believes this was an act of intimidation.

Malema should report to the nearest police station the incident with full details to enable police to probe the alleged incident, Nhleko said.

"It would help the police immensely if Mr Malema were to report the incident - and other incidents referred to by the EFF spokesperson so that these could be investigated thoroughly. It does not serve any purpose to accuse police without opening the necessary complaint to allow the police to fully investigate these complaints," the minister said.

If any of the members were to be found to have acted or are acting outside of the police Code of Conduct, necessary action would be taken against those members as soon as possible, Nhleko said.

"Failure to report only serves to cast aspersions on the police," he said.

Nhleko appealed to all leaders - political, business, traditional or even church leaders to show leadership and desist from making innuendos without following up with necessary action so that all complaints will be dealt with.

"It serves no purpose but to delegitimise the police to cast aspersions like this without the necessary details and action to enable us to get to the bottom of such complaints," Nhleko said.

The minister also asked the EFF leader to report this matter further to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate so that a body, independent of the South African Police Service can probe these allegations. Enditem