Gauteng
1Min
South Africa
Nov 19, 2025
Soil of Africa in Gauteng has raised concern about an incident in Mabopane in which a young man was allegedly assaulted by police, while the South African Police Service has provided a different version of what took place.
Soil of Africa in Gauteng has raised concern about an incident in Mabopane in which a young man was allegedly assaulted by police, while the South African Police Service has provided a different version of what took place.
The organisation said it received a report alleging that Phologo Jeffrey Machethe was assaulted by police officers during a raid in the Midas area on 15 November. According to the group, Machethe was found unconscious and severely injured after the incident. His family took him to Odi Hospital, where he was treated in casualty before being transferred to Dr George Mukhari Hospital because of the seriousness of his injuries.
Soil of Africa said the young man is still in hospital and is experiencing memory loss, which has made it difficult for him to recount the events. The organisation said his mother approached officers for an explanation, but they denied any involvement.
Soil of Africa said it is concerned about what it described as a violent and unacceptable act and called for a full investigation into the conduct of the officers who were present. It said accountability would be necessary if any wrongdoing is confirmed.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the incident but said officers were carrying out Operation Shanela liquor compliance inspections in the area. She said that while liquor was being confiscated at an illegal shebeen, a bystander attempted to grab a firearm from an officer’s holster, leading to a scuffle.
“During the scuffle the man fell to the ground. As police were about to arrest him, a woman arrived and identified herself as his mother and claimed he was mentally ill. Based on that information the man was not arrested, but the incident was recorded in the occurrence book,” she said.
Nevhuhulwi said police later learned that the man had been hospitalised. She confirmed that an inquiry has been opened and said investigators are awaiting a medical report from the hospital.
