Durban businesswoman narrates ordeal after she was allegedly punched and hit with a chair by a cop

Durban businesswoman, Viloshini Chengadu, is demanding swift justice after allegedly being subjected to a terrifying ordeal involving assault and threats by two law enforcement officers who are siblings.

Despite governmental calls for stricter penalties against perpetrators of gender-based violence, Chengadu expressed frustration over the lack of action taken against her assailants, highlighting the systemic failures in addressing such crimes.

“So where is the justice? This is why so many victims don’t report crimes because their cries for help fall on deaf ears,” Chengadu lamented, underscoring the disillusionment felt by many victims of violence who seek recourse through the legal system.

The incident unfolded when one of Chengadu’s truck drivers was involved in a collision with an off-duty police officer’s vehicle on Spine Road on March 5.

The officer, identifying himself as a member of law enforcement, proceeded to confront Chengadu’s driver and summoned his brother, a metro police officer, for assistance.

Despite the absence of outstanding fines or warrants against the driver, the officers proceeded to confiscate the truck’s expired license disc and demanded the presence of Chengadu’s husband, Trevor, at the scene.

Chengadu recounted the escalating tension as her husband questioned the necessity for his presence at the accident site, emphasizing the standard procedure of filing a report at the police station in such incidents.

“At that point, everyone was still calm and the two men stood up. However, as they turned towards the door, the policeman’s brother said, ‘I will show you something’, and the next thing I saw was the policeman pick up the chair he had been sitting on – and throw it at me. I felt a sudden wave of dizziness and as I stood up, he came towards me and punched me in the face, then again in my eye. I could feel ‘wetness’ on my face. It was my blood.

“My husband stood up, slipped and fell. He is not well. He had a quadruple heart bypass in 2022 and was diagnosed with a lung disease, sarcoidosis, last year.

“But then, one of my employees came rushing into the room and that is when the policeman’s brother pulled out his firearm and pointed it at us.

“We all froze. After a few minutes, they left the room, and that is when my husband called our security to not let them leave the premises. He then called police and medics.

“The men were escorted out of the premises by the police who arrived and I was taken to hospital. I had to have stitches on my forehead and nose.

“My eye is still swollen. I am not sure if there is any permanent damage or if my eyesight will be affected. I also have bruises to my left arm as I tried to shield myself when he flung the chair,” Chengadu said.

Despite the absence of casualties, the officers persisted in their demand to meet with Trevor, eventually arriving at the couple’s business premises in Mount Edgecombe.

The unresolved nature of the altercation and the lack of accountability for the officers’ alleged misconduct have left Chengadu disillusioned with the justice system’s response to her ordeal.


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