OMEGA 1 – The Omega Young Women’s Group (OYWG) supported by the Women’s Leadership Centre (WLC) has called for an end to alleged police brutality against the Khwe in Omega 1.
The group reported that last week a young man, Kajere Sake, aged 24, had to be hospitalized at Andara Hospital after allegedly being severely beaten by a police officer.
The victim stands accused of having stolen a chicken in the village. The victim was returned to Omega 1 yesterday in a poor physical condition.
A member of the OYMG said despite several complaints about the perpetrator of the brutality, even concerning rape, to the police, the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsman, the suspect has still not been charged and he continues harassing the community.
Leaders of the OYWG told WLC that this police officer is currently threatening to kill one of the members of their group if he loses his job due to their exposing his crimes.
OYWG will stage a demonstration in Omega 1 tomorrow for the removal of the officer from their community, as well as an end to police violence and brutality.
“We do not feel safe in our community, and we don’t have access to justice. We need more police officers here who speak our language and can communicate properly with us instead of violating our rights through rape and beatings,” said one of the women who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Several efforts to get comment from the police at Omega 1 yesterday proved futile.
Staff Reporter