AfriForum assists neighbourhood watch member during unlawful arrest

The past few months AfriForum has assisted a neighbourhood watch member from Johannesburg who was unlawfully arrested. Sybrant Swart was arrested and taken into custody on 12 December 2017 and was held at the Krugersdorp Correctional Services for seven days, after which AfriForum stepped in and bail was granted.

After four court appearances during which the case was postponed every time because no docket was available, the case was struck from the roll on 25 April 2018 due to a lack of evidence.

“The unprofessional and incompetent manner in which the involved officers handled this case is unacceptable. AfriForum neighbourhood watch members receive training to ensure that they act within the framework of the law at all times, as well as to understand that the neighbourhood watch acts as the eyes and ears of the SAPS. AfriForum is here to build and not to break, but will step in when authorities act unlawfully,” says Hillel Coetzer, AfriForum’s Safety Coordinator for the Northern region.

SMS “Onbevoeg” to 45353 (R1) to join your nearest neighbourhood watch.