Say what you want about camera phones and their ability to ruin a good night out, at least they help us hold our local law enforcement accountable for actions such as these.

A video shared yesterday on Facebook has gone viral, now shared over 25 000 times, showing the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) assaulting a member of the public. Full marks to Carmen Bell for knowing she is within her rights to film this, despite the protestations of a police officer.

Here’s the full text that accompanied that video on the Facebook post:

UNACCEPTABLE CONDUCT BY JMPD. So I took this Video this morning at the entrance to the Mall of Africa. As I rummaged through my bag to get my phone out, these JMPD members had already punched, pushed and kicked this person to the floor and the tall metro cop was hitting and kicking him on the ground. From the video you see how they physically assaulted this person after he refused to be arrested for not having number plates (not sure what the law states regarding whether driving without number plates is a criminal offence or just warrants a fine?). Either way, the tall officer then threatens this person and proceeds to “steal” his vehicle and drives off only to return when the other officers warn him that I am videoing. The female officer also wanted me to stop recording but I duly explained that it is my legal right to video an assault on a member of public. I gave my card to this gentleman so not sure of his name but this completely unacceptable. This poor man was SO frightened he could barely speak because he was ganged up on by 3 officers.The tall officer was blatant in his physical abuse and he is a shining example of the power trip that members of JMPD are on. It was disgusting and so scary to watch!

So what ramifications await the officers in this video? EWN with this:

…the JMPD’s Edna Mamonyane says no action can be taken against officers until the motorists comes forward to testify about the ill-treatment.

“The JMPD takes seriously issues of people who come and report our officers of any wrongdoing.”

Obviously not that serious Edna – if we can’t hold law enforcement accountable for their actions what hope do we have for the general public?

[sources:facebook,ewn]