Hanover Park Teen ‘Beaten Until He Couldn’t Walk’ In Shocking AGU Assault Claim

A Hanover Park mother says her 18-year-old son was left badly beaten and unable to walk after he was allegedly assaulted by Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officers while walking to a nearby shop.

Nerida Swartz claims the incident took place on 5 February between 8pm and 9pm in Surwood Walk, Hanover Park, after she sent her son, Uygun de Lily, to the local bhai. The shop is just a three-minute walk from their home, and he was accompanied by a friend.

‘Aunty, Daar Vat Die B*e Vir Ugan,’ Neighbours Allegedly Warned**

Swartz says panic set in when children from the court ran to her house shouting: “Aunty, daar vat die b**e vir Ugan.”*

She said she, her husband and their daughter rushed to the scene to find out what was happening, but were allegedly met with hostility from police officers.

“So his daddy, his sister, and I went around to go and ask what was happening, and most of those police officers were so rude,” she said.

“They pushed my husband away behind one of the vans and smacked him all over his face. They pushed us into one of the neighbours’ yards and they swore at us.

“Hulle het vir ons gesê, ons is a klomp niers en ons moet nie vir hulle vir ‘n ps vat nie.”

Teen Allegedly Beaten Alongside Gangsters Despite Being Identified as Innocent

Swartz claims several people — including alleged gang members who were standing near the shop — were taken into a yard by officers.

“They hit my son, his friend, and the gansters,” she said.

“One of the gangsters told the cops that my son isn’t a gangster, but they told him hy moet sy bek hou, and they just kept on smacking my son.”

She alleges that when her son was eventually released, he was unable to walk and had to be carried back to the court by family members.

Hanover Teen Left Injured as Ipid Confirms Investigation

Swartz says her son sustained facial injuries, bruised ribs and blood-stained clothing due to a nosebleed. Family members later carried him home after police left the area.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed that the watchdog is aware of the incident.

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“The case was reported over the weekend, and the case docket will be investigated by Ipid,” he said.

Second Complaint Against AGU in Area in Less Than a Month

This is the second complaint lodged by residents of Surwood Walk against AGU officers in under a month.

SurgeZirc SA previously reported on an incident on 14 January in which a mother alleged that AGU officers trashed her home and left her four-year-old daughter traumatised.

SAPS spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of malicious damage to property was registered following that incident.

Meanwhile, 11 AGU officers are facing charges including murder and torture following the death of alleged gang member Wade Price in December last year.