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Ladysmith Couple’s Police Stop Turns Violent as IPID Launches Probe

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Chiraag

police stop South Africa, Ladysmith couple incident, IPID investigation, broken hearing aid, community safety concern, Joburg ETC

A routine drive home becomes a terrifying ordeal

What should have been a quiet Saturday night drive home has become the centre of a serious misconduct investigation for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate. A young Ladysmith couple, Jenevieve and Romario Cloete, say they are still reeling after an encounter with local police that left them bruised, shaken, and searching for answers.

The events unfolded on 15 November shortly after 9:30 in the evening. The couple had just dropped off a friend and were heading home when they spotted a police van flashing its lights. Believing officers were in pursuit of someone else, they pulled into a Shoprite parking area to give the van space. Instead of passing them, one van stopped in front of their car, and another blocked them from behind.

A confrontation, the couple say, they never expected

According to Jenevieve, the officers walked straight up to their open windows. One questioned Romario about driving without a licence. He is deaf. Before she could explain this, the situation escalated.

She says the door was yanked open, her phone was taken while she tried to record the moment, and her husband was dragged from the vehicle. She describes seeing him being stomped in the face and pepper-sprayed. His hearing aid was damaged by the force of the officer’s foot pressing into his face.

The couple say they were placed in separate police vans and transported to the station without any explanation. Romario was allegedly tossed around in the back of the vehicle as it drove. They say they repeatedly asked for the officers’ names and for the reason behind their arrest. No explanation was provided until seven hours later, when they were informed that both had been arrested for riotous behaviour.

For the couple, the charge does not add up. They say they had simply pulled over to let the police pass and were then met with hostility and force. They describe feeling powerless in that moment. They insist they have no history of breaking the law and that the experience has left them traumatised. Romario continues to struggle with ear pain, and their therapy sessions have now become part of their routine.

A community watching closely

Although the incident happened in Ladysmith, the story has quickly spread online. Many South Africans have expressed anger over another alleged case of excessive force. Others have shown support for the young couple and called for accountability. For many, the incident speaks to deeper frustrations about police conduct and the uneven treatment ordinary citizens sometimes face during roadside stops.

IPID steps in

The Western Cape police confirmed that the matter has been handed to IPID. Spokesperson Phaladi Shuping says the directorate’s George office is leading the investigation. A consultation with the complainant has been arranged after initial attempts to speak earlier in the week did not align with the couple’s availability. The probe is now underway.

For Jenevieve and Romario, justice is the only outcome they hope for. Their story reflects something many South Africans understand too well. Roadside stops often carry uncertainty and fear, especially when the power dynamic feels one-sided. Their experience has reignited public conversations about accountability, transparency, and the need for consistent, respectful policing.
They simply want answers, protection, and a sense that what happened to them will not happen again.