Man arrested for breaking curfew to sue police
The man who was arrested for being out past curfew to buy baby formula will be seeking financial reparations from the police officer who arrested him.
Afriforum's private prosecution unit - along with the family lawyer- announced on Monday that Naas le Roux will lodge a civil complaint against the officer and relevant parties.
Le Roux joined the lobby group at a press briefing on Monday morning.
He was arrested on January 7 for breaking the evening curfew rule because he had to go and buy formula milk for his newborn baby.
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Le Roux Family lawyer, Lily Rautenbach, says they will also file a formal complaint to the police commissioner.
Rautenbach says unlawful arrest will be part of the complaints but does not want to go into details just yet.
"We are definitely going to be suing the two individuals and the SAPS. The amount we are still working on that," Rautenbach said. "I do not want to elaborate at this stage."
"We are still formalising all the necessary documents and this regard we will - at the later stage - inform you of the charges we're going to file," Rautenbach said.
Le Roux says the incident has left him traumatised and does not believe an apology will suffice.
"Apologies is not going to serve the purpose, it can help but I cannot see that it will make everything disappear".
He says he has lost some confidence in the police since the incident happened.
"But you don't when things like this is going to happen again.
"At this stage definitely scarred. It's difficult to have a positive (attitude) when you now think back and see police vehicle, uniform. Are they going to do something similar or are they just going to walk past you? I don't know."
