Karen Breytenbach
23 November 2007
Cape Town — A complaint of assault has been laid against a security guard at the home affairs refugee centre on the Foreshore after he allegedly beat an asylum-seeker on Thursday.
Paul Nsabwa, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was treated for bruises at Somerset Hospital and has engaged a pro bono lawyer to claim for damages.
Nsabwa arrived at the centre with a letter from the Legal Resources Centre confirming that he had an official appointment.
A guard from Public Works, he claims, did not believe him and would not let him in. Nsabwa went to another entrance where a female guard let him in. The male guard then spotted him.
"He caught me by the leg and grabbed me by the throat. He jumped on my ribs and yelled at me that he would kill me. The cleaners stood there, laughing. Other refugees came to help me. He stopped," Nsabwa said.
Witnesses said Nsabwa was temporarily unconscious.
A Public Works official, Makgonye Maphila, said he would speak to those involved and investigate the matter. It was too early to say if the guard would face disciplinary action.
"When I was alerted that (Nsabwa) was in hospital, the guard had already gone. I talked to other guards and they confirmed that he was violent. But the allegations will have to be tested." He would ask Home Affairs to help Nsabwa, "as an apology from our side", he said.
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