A Rhodes University student activist who was allegedly threatened and intimidated at night by two men in police uniforms yesterday said she did not expect the crime to be solved.
Speaking to the Dispatch after 25 students marched to the local police station demanding answers, politics masters student Lihle Ngobozi said she was not surprised when acting station commander Colonel Monray Nel admitted they were no closer to cracking the case.
Nqobozi, who has been at the forefront of fees must fall protests, was allegedly assaulted, threatened and intimidated recently by two white men while walking alone at night in Grahamstown.
The men, who were driving a black, unmarked car, allegedly called her by name, aggressively grabbed her by the arm and warned her to stop being involved with Black Student Movement protests – or face the consequences.
Nel yesterday told students even though they had assigned one of their best detectives, Sergeant Nathan Gabriel, to the case they were battling to come up with leads.
He said the local station only had three white, uniformed policemen, including himself, and that the investigation had been expanded to other towns such as Port Alfred.
Nel said police were looking at vehicle tracker records to try to work out if one of their unmarked vehicles had been used.
“We do have black, unmarked police vehicles. We drew their reports but it was not one of ours. We are now looking at (police) cars from out of town.”
Although Nel initially said police communications would respond to student calls to condemn the incident, he later said any attack was serious.
Student Fezi Mthonti said protestors across the country were being harassed – especially “black young females” who were being targeted for their ideas.
During questioning, Nel said it was a serious offence to impersonate a police officer and that they were also investigating this possibility. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
No leads in Rhodes student intimidation case
A Rhodes University student activist who was allegedly threatened and intimidated at night by two men in police uniforms yesterday said she did not expect the crime to be solved.
Speaking to the Dispatch after 25 students marched to the local police station demanding answers, politics masters student Lihle Ngobozi said she was not surprised when acting station commander Colonel Monray Nel admitted they were no closer to cracking the case.
Nqobozi, who has been at the forefront of fees must fall protests, was allegedly assaulted, threatened and intimidated recently by two white men while walking alone at night in Grahamstown.
The men, who were driving a black, unmarked car, allegedly called her by name, aggressively grabbed her by the arm and warned her to stop being involved with Black Student Movement protests – or face the consequences.
Nel yesterday told students even though they had assigned one of their best detectives, Sergeant Nathan Gabriel, to the case they were battling to come up with leads.
He said the local station only had three white, uniformed policemen, including himself, and that the investigation had been expanded to other towns such as Port Alfred.
Nel said police were looking at vehicle tracker records to try to work out if one of their unmarked vehicles had been used.
“We do have black, unmarked police vehicles. We drew their reports but it was not one of ours. We are now looking at (police) cars from out of town.”
Although Nel initially said police communications would respond to student calls to condemn the incident, he later said any attack was serious.
Student Fezi Mthonti said protestors across the country were being harassed – especially “black young females” who were being targeted for their ideas.
During questioning, Nel said it was a serious offence to impersonate a police officer and that they were also investigating this possibility. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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