'Police intimidation' closes Philippi centre
16 June 2009, 08:23
The owners of a Philippi community centre, catering mostly to the Rastafarian community, say they have been forced to shut the centre down due to police intimidation.
This follows the arrests on Friday of 12 patrons for the possession of dagga and two of the managers for obstructing police and riotous behaviour.
Jeannie Elliott, a manager at the Umojah Arts and Cultural Centre, said on Friday police officers from the Philippi station entered the centre without a search warrant.
"They arrested two managers when they demanded to see the search warrant, along with 12 patrons," said Elliott.
She said since the centre opened on March 20, managers had been at the Philippi police station every week because of harassment.
A case had been lodged with the Independent Complaints Directorate, but its provincial director, Thabo Leholo, was still to conclude his inquiry.
Craig Davids, one of the managers arrested for obstructing police, said the case against him was thrown out of the Wynberg Magistrate's Court when he arrived on Monday morning for his first appearance.
"When I got to court this morning, the prosecutor told me there was no case against (me) after looking through the arrest docket and returned my R300 bail I had paid on Saturday," said Davids.
Davids said that after Friday's arrests, he and his partners were scared of going back to the area to open the centre.
Asked whether anyone had been smoking dagga inside the venue which could have prompted the police's action, he said there were instances when Rastas used the narcotic.
"If we're having a cultural event, involving Rastas, there will be some of them who smoke dagga inside the venue ... we can't prevent it," said Davids.
He said when police arrived at the venue on May 22 with a search warrant for suspicion of illegal drugs and weapons on the premises it was two weeks old.
Davids said: "They basically intimidate people into signing admission of guilt fines with the threat of being taken to Pollsmoor if they refuse."
Spokesperson for the Philippi police Ettiene Conradie said the 14 arrests were made for possession of dagga, riotous behaviour and obstruction of police in their duties.
"What they (management) don't say is that it is a Rastafarian club. We've received several complaints from the community about the dagga smoking taking place there," said Conradie.
Asked why the case against Davids has been thrown out, he said it was the court's decision to withdraw charges.
"All of the 12 people arrested (for possession of dagga) paid admission of guilt fines. We are going to keep on raiding that place," said Conradie.
quinton.mtyala@inl.co.za
This follows the arrests on Friday of 12 patrons for the possession of dagga and two of the managers for obstructing police and riotous behaviour.
Jeannie Elliott, a manager at the Umojah Arts and Cultural Centre, said on Friday police officers from the Philippi station entered the centre without a search warrant.
"They arrested two managers when they demanded to see the search warrant, along with 12 patrons," said Elliott.
She said since the centre opened on March 20, managers had been at the Philippi police station every week because of harassment.
A case had been lodged with the Independent Complaints Directorate, but its provincial director, Thabo Leholo, was still to conclude his inquiry.
Craig Davids, one of the managers arrested for obstructing police, said the case against him was thrown out of the Wynberg Magistrate's Court when he arrived on Monday morning for his first appearance.
"When I got to court this morning, the prosecutor told me there was no case against (me) after looking through the arrest docket and returned my R300 bail I had paid on Saturday," said Davids.
Davids said that after Friday's arrests, he and his partners were scared of going back to the area to open the centre.
Asked whether anyone had been smoking dagga inside the venue which could have prompted the police's action, he said there were instances when Rastas used the narcotic.
"If we're having a cultural event, involving Rastas, there will be some of them who smoke dagga inside the venue ... we can't prevent it," said Davids.
He said when police arrived at the venue on May 22 with a search warrant for suspicion of illegal drugs and weapons on the premises it was two weeks old.
Davids said: "They basically intimidate people into signing admission of guilt fines with the threat of being taken to Pollsmoor if they refuse."
Spokesperson for the Philippi police Ettiene Conradie said the 14 arrests were made for possession of dagga, riotous behaviour and obstruction of police in their duties.
"What they (management) don't say is that it is a Rastafarian club. We've received several complaints from the community about the dagga smoking taking place there," said Conradie.
Asked why the case against Davids has been thrown out, he said it was the court's decision to withdraw charges.
"All of the 12 people arrested (for possession of dagga) paid admission of guilt fines. We are going to keep on raiding that place," said Conradie.
- This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Times on June 16, 2009
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