Daily Sun (May 29 2014) - WHEN EMMANUEL told his son Morena he was getting him a car the teenager was over the moon with joy. But Morena's happiness turned to tears when his father came home with a wheelchair instead of a car. EMMANUEL HAS LOST R50 000 AND MORENA IS STILL DREAMING ABOUT THE CAR HE DOESN'T HAVE!
Emmanuel Tladi (52) from Naledi in Soweto accuses the cops of robbing him of the money he borrowed to buy his younger son a car - and his elder son is in pain after allegedly being given hot klaps by the same cops.
Emmanuel's sad story started on Sunday morning when he went to Evaton in the Vaal with his elder son, Itumeleng Karala (25). With the money he borrowed safely in Itumeleng's pocket, they went to see a car dealer.
The car dealer, a disabled man in a wheelchair, told Emmanuel he knew people who sold great cars. He said he would help them find the right car at the right price.
"The car dealer drove to Evaton Mall in his car and we followed in my car," said Emmanuel.
"Soon, two strangers arrived who told us they had many cars for us to choose from."
Emmanuel got into the car with one of the strangers while Itumeleng, the other stranger and the disabled man followed in the disabled dealer's car.
"But it didn't take long before I couldn't see the car in the mirror behind us," said Emmanuel.
"I stopped but Itumeleng didn't come. I was very worried and phoned him, but he didn't answer."
What Emmanuel didn't know was the stranger had stopped following their car and driven in a different direction with Itumeleng. Soon Itumeleng, the stranger and the disabled man were stopped by cops in a Golf 6 freeway patrol car who demanded to search the car.
"When the cops found the R50 000 they said we were dealing in illegal business for having large sums of money on us," said the young man.
When Itumelng resisted, the cops started hitting him.
"They told us we were under arrest and we were told to drive to the police station," he said.
But this time the cop car disappeared.
"After a few corners we couldn't see the police car any more. We waited but the cops never appeared."
Then Itumeleng phoned Emmanuel with the sad news that the money was gone. Emmanuel raced to the scene and accused the men of being involved in the robbery.
Emmanuel said they must all go the police station to report a case. When the other men didn't want to go, Emmanuel opened the boot of the disabled man's car and took the wheelchair.
"You can get the wheelchair when you get to the police station," he told the man and Emmanuel and his son drove to the police station, but the other men never arrived.
"We were left with only the wheelchair," said Emmanuel.
- Itumeleng managed to get the registration number of the Golf 6 police car. The number has been given to the police.
Constable Tshishiwa Mitileni of Evaton Police Station confirmed a case of theft was opened at the station and police are investigating. He said a similar case was reported at their police station recently.
"We will investigate and find out who was working on the day. We have all the details and we are on the point of arresting the culprits," said Mitileni.
He confirmed that cops are involved and the case would go to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
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