Another gross public display of hatred for weed and anyone that benefits from it. A common possession arrest in Cape Town resulted in a 48-year-old Rastafarian losing his life and a family losing a father. On Friday 20th December 2019, just before Christmas, things got very out of hand as this time the suspected DAGGA dealer was not only assaulted in his own home, but had to watch as SAPS tore apart his family’s homestead without probable cause. The search and abuse are believed to have taken place over a 4 hour period that not only resulted in an arrest but a family never seeing their beloved ever again.

This, unfortunately, comes only weeks after Major Khela Sitole issued a national directive for SAPS members to follow correct arrest procedures. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate response materialised online moments after the incident with a sub-par acknowledgement of the death and almost no comment on the lack of procedure and conduct from our darling police service.

This unnecessary and brutal display of hatred has enraged the Rastafarian community who now demand answers. The Daily Voice and Fields of Green for ALL were some of the only media platforms to report the incident and truly assisted those seeking justice and an answer for the atrocities that transpired.

After what must have been a very brutal Christmas for all connected, the Western Cape Rasta community marched to the Wellington Police Station demanding some type of answer. The march was arranged by The Voice of the Western Province and deemed successful in making a public statement of disgust for what should never happen again.