“Find Your Own Attackers”: Mpumalanga Man Claims Shocking Police Neglect

Trichardt resident says officers told him to investigate his own assault or “keep quiet”

When Diphapang Mahata was violently attacked in his Trichardt home, the last thing he expected was to be handed an even bigger trauma, by the very people meant to protect him.

Instead of swift arrests or any semblance of justice, Mahata claims local police essentially told him: “You’re on your own.”

Assaulted in His Own Home, Then Abandoned by the System

A few weeks ago, Mahata’s quiet life near Secunda was shattered when three intruders broke into his home. During the break-in, he was struck on the head with a sharp object. Bleeding and shaken, he managed to get to hospital and later opened a case at Trichardt police station.

He thought that was the beginning of justice. But what followed, according to Mahata, was a surreal and deeply disturbing ordeal.

Instead of investigating, a police officer reportedly called him with instructions more suited to a detective novel than an actual SAPS investigation.

“The officer told me to go to taverns and crowded places to listen to gossip. She said if I did that, maybe I’d figure out who attacked me,” Mahata said in disbelief.

Suspect Arrested… Then Released While He Was at Work

Days later, a ray of hope emerged when police phoned Mahata to say a suspect had been arrested. But when he arrived at the station after work, that hope was crushed, the suspect had already been released. No explanation. No follow-up. No justice.

“They said they couldn’t wait. But why call me hours before releasing him, knowing I’m at work?” he asked.

Mahata believes the timing was deliberate, possibly an attempt to bury the case quietly once they realized he was speaking with political activists and media outlets about the handling of his complaint.

Police Say the Case Was Withdrawn, But He Never Did

What might be most shocking is that when contacted for comment, Mpumalanga police claimed Mahata withdrew the case himself.

Mahata calls that a blatant lie.

“Why would I contact the media and political parties if I had withdrawn my case? This is corruption,” he said, adding that he’s now seeking legal advice and plans to formally escalate the matter with the station commander.

Justice for the Wealthy, Indifference for the Poor?

Beyond his personal case, Mahata raised a painful point many South Africans from underprivileged communities have echoed: poor and rural residents often get a different kind of policing.

“When you’re from a township or a farm, they treat you like you don’t matter. That officer spoke to me like I was a child,” he said.

Community Reaction: Outrage, But Not Surprise

On social media, many weren’t shocked by Mahata’s story, just tired. Several users on X (formerly Twitter) commented that such treatment has become routine in some police stations, especially in areas far from the public eye.

Others expressed outrage that the justice system continues to fail victims while empowering perpetrators.

“So now victims must moonlight as investigators? What are police paid for then?” one user wrote.

“This is how communities lose faith in the law and take matters into their own hands,” added another.

What This Case Really Reveals

This isn’t just one man’s story, it’s a snapshot of a deeper crisis in South Africa’s policing culture. While high-level politicians debate reforms and corruption probes fill headlines, everyday citizens like Mahata face terrifying ordeals without backup.

The Trichardt case raises urgent questions: How many other victims were told to “find their own attackers”? How many walked away, unheard? And most importantly, how many more will?

For now, Mahata waits, for justice, for accountability, and for a sign that the system hasn’t entirely given up on people like him.

If you’ve experienced similar issues with police misconduct in Mpumalanga or elsewhere in South Africa, contact the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) or reach out to legal rights organisations for support.

{Source: The Citizen}

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