Lutzville police officer out on bail after allegedly assaulting 13-year-old with a sjambok

A policeman from Lutzville, Western Cape, is facing a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after allegedly beating a 13-year-old boy with a sjambok. The officer, Jaco Oktober, appeared in Lutzville Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 21 October, where he was granted bail at R2,000. 

Sarah Bakamela, a Lutzville-based activist, described the outcome of the court appearance as a “slap in the face” for community members.

“How can someone who’s been sworn in to protect and serve be the one who commits such a heinous crime, and then they’re allowed bail?” she said.

A police officer from Lutzville police station, Western Cape, has been accused of assaulting a 13-year-old boy with a sjambok. (Photo: Tamsin Metelerkamp)

Oktober is stationed at Lutzville SAPS Detective Unit, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). He allegedly hit the 13-year-old boy on the face, back and legs after the child had been arrested on suspicion of theft.

“The incident was reported to Ipid and Oktober was arrested on Friday [18 October],” stated Ipid. “He appeared in court and the case was postponed to 29 October 2024 for a regional court date.”

(1/2) A Western Cape police officer accused of assaulting a 13-year-old boy was released on bail of R2000 by Lutzville Magistrates Court. Constable Jaco Justin Oktober, stationed at Lutzville SAPS Detective Unit, allegedly assaulted the complainant with a sjambok.

— Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID (@RSA_IPID) October 22, 2024

Failed by the system

The boy is reportedly in the foster care system. Bakamela claimed that while the alleged assault took place on Monday, 14 October, she only found out about it on Wednesday, at which point the child had been kept in the police station holding cells for two nights.

While he was later taken to Vredendal Hospital for treatment, Bakamela told Daily Maverick that he was then brought back to the police station as his foster parents did not want him returned to their care.

“The child is in foster care. Yes, he’s troublesome, which clearly shows that kid needs help, because he’s been from home to home… But what we’re saying as activists is, don’t take the law into your own hands. Do the right thing. If the police are the ones who are hurting and not providing the prevention and the protection, where are we going to run to?” she said.

Sarah Bakamela, Lutzville-based community leader and activist, outside Vredendal Magistrates’ Court. (Photo: Tamsin Metelerkamp)

Daily Maverick sent the following three questions to the South African Police Service, Ipid and the Western Cape Department of Social Development:

• It has been alleged that the 13-year-old boy was kept in a holding cell at the police station for two days after he was beaten. Is this true?


• It has been claimed that the boy was returned to the holding cell after he was released from hospital. Is this true?


• If so, why was he returned to the place he was allegedly assaulted?

None of the bodies provided a clear answer.

SAPS spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said, “Kindly be advised that the criminal matter you are referring to is the subject of an Ipid investigation and their communication department is in a better position to facilitate your questions.”

Ipid told Daily Maverick that it was involved only in the investigation of the alleged assault of the minor by a police officer, and that any questions regarding the boy’s arrest and what happened during the time he was arrested should be directed to the police.

“He was allegedly assaulted in custody of the police and he was taken to hospital by the police,” it stated.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development confirmed that “a Designated Child Protection Organisation was responsible for the child’s foster care supervision” and that the department was “providing the necessary interventions to support the child”, but said that it could not disclose any further details.

 “For queries related to the police, we suggest you contact the SAPS,” said the department.

Neither the SAPS nor the social development department gave a clear response to Daily Maverick’s question, sent on Tuesday, 22 October, about whether the boy was still being held at the police station.

When asked if Oktober had been suspended from his role at Lutzville SAPS Detective Unit, Traut said, “In so far as the disciplinary matter against the member is concerned, be advised that the process is under way.”

Lutzville, Western Cape. 22 October 2024. (Photo: Tamsin Metelerkamp)

Police under pressure

Bakamela said that since the alleged assault, two mothers in the community had approached her, claiming that their children had also been beaten at the Lutzville police station, and that the police failed to assist them when they attempted to open cases concerning the incidents.

“We need improvement in our police services. Our police station must be well equipped. Our policemen must know how to do their job… [with] thorough investigation. That’s what we are expecting them to do,” she said.

Johan Muller, councillor for Ward 1 of Matzikama Municipality, which includes Lutzville, said that the 13-year-old boy had been failed by the system that was meant to protect him.

“I also spoke to the police with regard to… what was happening with the child, because they said he was in and out of the police station a lot with regard to petty crimes… They should have looked to put him in a place of safety so that he could also attend school,” said Muller.

He said he had been campaigning for the Lutzville SAPS to support the formation of a Community Policing Forum (CPF) in the town, as it had been several years since one had existed. He believed a CPF could play an important role in supporting the SAPS and improving its relationship with the community.

“The community is crying out that we want to establish [a CPF] because of the safety concerns that we have,” said Muller.

“[The police] said that they are also overburdened with the workload – the community is too big; they’re under-resourced; they don’t have vehicles; they don’t have personnel and the station must be upgraded… But they’re supposed to protect us and … get the community to work with them to protect our communities.”

When Daily Maverick asked the SAPS about the allegations surrounding Lutzville police station, Traut responded, “The allegations of mismanagement, abuses and failures to pursue cases at Lutzville police station are not true. If any wrongdoing is detected at any of the province’s police stations, immediate remedial steps are instituted by provincial management to prevent a recurrence.” DM