The Western Cape High Court has ordered the Minister of Police to pay a Ceres man R150 000 in damages following his unlawful arrest and detention.
The Minister of Police has been ordered to pay R150 000 in damages to a Ceres man following an unlawful arrest and detention during which police used excessive force.
In a judgment delivered on August 18, 2026, the Western Cape High Court awarded Khumbulani Zengethwa damages for an incident involving police at a shopping centre in Ceres eight years ago.
Acting Judge SC O’Brien found that what began over an apparent minor infraction should never have escalated to Zengethwa being arrested and detained.
O’Brien found that the police could have dealt with the matter differently.
