A Wesbank mother says she fears the police and military after allegedly being assaulted during a search at her home involving members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Kim van Wyk, 39, said police and soldiers arrived at her home on Thursday at about 5:17 pm while allegedly searching for firearms and drugs.
Van Wyk said she had been walking to a nearby shop with her daughter when she noticed two police vans and an army truck outside her home.
Search allegedly turns violent
According to Van Wyk, officers ordered her back inside and questioned her about the whereabouts of her husband and alleged firearms and drugs.
She told them she had no guns or drugs in the house and allowed them to search the property.
Van Wyk said she and her husband are going through a divorce and have been separated for months.
She alleged that five SANDF members then took her upstairs to her bedroom, where she was assaulted.
Van Wyk claimed one man grabbed her by the neck and intimate area before throwing her onto the bed. She further alleged that a blue plastic bag was repeatedly placed over her face, causing her to struggle to breathe.
Mother claims she lost consciousness
Van Wyk said she was restrained during the alleged assault and described the incident as sexual assault.
She claimed she moved in and out of consciousness while being suffocated and later saw a man holding a taser.
Van Wyk also alleged that when she asked for water, she was told to drink from the toilet. She claimed the group threatened to kill her if they returned.
She estimated that the ordeal lasted around 30 minutes.
SAPS confirms investigation
Van Wyk later opened a case at Mfuleni SAPS.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that an assault case had been registered.
Twigg said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
No arrests have been made.
The allegations against the police and SANDF members remain claims made by Van Wyk while the police investigation continues.