Police officer accused of assaulting Phoenix teenager

A routine drive to fetch a family member turned into a nightmare for 19-year-old Liaqat Mohamed after an encounter with police officers, which escalated into alleged violence and unlawful treatment, leaving the young man shaken, bruised, and his family demanding justice.

On Wednesday, July 16, just after 12:30pm, Liaqat was en route to fetch his mother from a hospital in Phoenix when a white Volkswagen Polo reportedly swerved dangerously close to his vehicle.

In a reflexive move to avoid a collision, he hooted and braked sharply, narrowly preventing an accident. According to his mother, Sameera Mohamed, the Polo reversed to confront her son.

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“They asked why he was hooting, and when he explained that they had nearly collided with him and caused an accident, one of them demanded to see his driver’s license,” Mohamed claimed.

Liaqat claimed that when they had gotten out of the vehicle, one of the suspects asked him if he knew who they were, to which he said no.

Thereafter, they responded by saying that they were police officers. He then requested to see their appointment cards to prove if they were indeed police officers, as none of the occupants wore uniforms or displayed badges and were allegedly dressed in plain, casual clothing.

The group then forcibly removed Liaqat’s car keys and instructed him to exit the vehicle, sparking fears of a hijacking. Both Liaqat and his passenger were terrified. When asked for identification, the plain-clothed suspects allegedly refused. Instead, they began threatening the young driver, claiming his license disc had expired (which the family says was false) and ordered him to stop recording on his phone.

Liaqat, who had been recently robbed and only had a receipt proving that he had purchased a replacement, was compliant. Back-up was eventually called. When Liaqat’s father, who serves as a duty officer with the local Community Policing Forum (CPF), arrived, he tried to explain that his son was a legal driver. His attempts were dismissed, and Liaqat was arrested at the scene.

At the Phoenix police station, what happened next has left the Mohamed family traumatised. While being processed, Liaqat was verbally insulted and physically assaulted by a constable.

“He slapped my son and placed him in a headlock so tight he couldn’t breathe,” Mohamed said, describing how her asthmatic son struggled to gasp for air while being kicked and throttled by the officer, allegedly while a detective and a captain stood by and watched.

Mohamed’s husband rushed in and pulled the officer away, preventing what she believes could have been fatal. Despite the family’s clear identification and full co-operation with authorities, no immediate disciplinary action was taken against the officer involved. In a further twist, the family claims that they were offered a ‘deal’ to drop any charges against the constable in exchange for Liaqat’s release.

“We were told this could all be squashed if we didn’t press charges,” Mohamed alleged.

Her husband refused, stating they would follow the correct legal route. After hours in detention and once the visible swelling on his face had subsided, Liaqat was released with a fine. His injuries, however, tell a different story. The family rushed him to a local clinic for medical care.

“I was in shock when I saw him. The police are meant to serve and protect, not hurt and humiliate. My son could have died,” said Mohamed, her voice breaking.

The incident is made more heartbreaking by the fact that Liaqat had only just applied to join the South African Police Service (SAPS) the previous week, a dream now clouded by trauma and mistrust. The Mohamed family, who are long-standing members of both the CPF and Community in Blue (CIB), say they never expected preferential treatment, just fair and lawful conduct. They are calling for a full investigation and accountability from the officers involved.

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“This isn’t just about my son. It’s about every young person who fears those who should be protecting them. We need answers, and we need change. I am deeply concerned, as when incidents such as this occur, we always look at the physical scars, but what about my son’s emotional state? It’s been a very traumatic experience for him, which is going to take a long time to heal, yet it’s an experience which he will never forget,” Mohamed said.

Provincial police spokesperson, Col Robert Netshiunda, confirmed that the incident is under investigation. “Police have opened a case of common assault following an incident in which a 19-year-old man alleged that he was assaulted by a police officer when he was being arrested on Wednesday, July 16, at the Phoenix police station. The matter is under investigation,” he confirmed. Lizzy Suping, the national spokesperson for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), also confirmed an investigation. “The case was officially registered with IPID on July 17, 2025. The investigating officer visited the crime scene last week to reconstruct the scene. Therefore, our investigation is still in its infancy stages. We need to allow the investigation process to take its course,” Suping said in a statement.