‘They broke my door’: Mitchells Plain resident gatvol after yet another raid - IOL

Cops and the army broke Wyngaard’s door and safety gate to gain access.

Mitchells Plain resident Michael Wyngaard says he is fed up after police and soldiers raided his home in the early hours of Thursday morning – allegedly the 14th raid there in a year.

“Hulle soek guns en drugs. Hier bly nie sulke mense hier nie. (“They are looking for guns and drugs.) People like that do not live here. This is now the 14th time our place is being raided,” said a furious Wyngaard.

According to Wyngaard, the police officers and the army rocked up at his flat in Hercules Road at around 4.30am on Thursday morning.

“They broke both the safety gate and the door to force themselves in. My whole family, including my elderly parents, was still asleep.

“Their behaviour was even worse than criminals. They were thugs and did not even turn on the lights so we can see them. They had search dogs and everything.”

He said of all 14 raids, police had only presented search warrants three times.

“This time again they did not have a warrant. I asked them what they were looking for. Dit bly net guns en drugs.

“They said they received info and were only following up. There are no gangsters or drug users or sellers living under this roof. None of us have tattoos,” Wyngaard said.

He said after the raid he immediately alerted his local ward councillor about the broken door.

“I have elderly parents. Both of them are on chronic medication. I had to get the door fixed.”

He said: “I honestly don’t understand why this house is constantly being targeted.”

Ward 75 councillor Joan Woodman confirmed that the City of Cape Town assisted in replacing the door by the early afternoon.

Western Cape police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said SAPS members received information during an operation which led them to the premises in Hercules Road, Woodlands.

The City of Cape Town replaced the door.

He said: “This information was immediately followed up and the premises were searched. The information was negative and nothing was found and no arrest was made during the search.

“The damage can be reported at the nearest police station. There is a process in place for the occupant to submit a claim against SAPS."

Van Wyk did not confirm which other law enforcement agencies were all in attendance during the raid.