Cape Town - Angry residents marched to the Manenberg police station on Tuesday to express dissatisfaction and anger at police who, they claim, are accepting bribes to make dockets disappear.
Residents from Manenberg, Tambo Village and Gugulethu blocked the entrance to the station.
A scuffle almost ensued when police officers pushed their way through the crowd, shouting: “Why you are coming here to accuse us?”.
Frustrated residents quickly pointed fingers at so-called corrupt officers. But the acting station commander Colonel Sanele Zama intervened, and managed to calm the situation.
Zama accepted a memorandum on behalf of Brigadier Andre van Dyk.
“We will look at your concerns. We know you would not just march to the station for nothing. Thank you for letting us know,” he said.
Manenberg resident Jasmine Davids, 46, produced documents which she said were evidence of correspondence with the authorities, including former police minister Nathi Mthethwa, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and to the Public Protector.
Davids said to make matters worse an officer assaulted her when she wanted an update on a case of fraud she had laid in June 2013. “Instead of helping me he assaulted me. My cases are still not solved till today,” Davids said.
The Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson Kader Jacobs promised to assist the community to make sure their cases are investigated. “We are aware of the alleged corruption at this station.
“But for us to assist you, we have to see the evidence. The courts want evidence – not just allegations,” he said.
Community leader Lungile Mtwana said residents were tired of “corrupt police officers who accept bribes in exchange for the botching of an investigation”.
“We demand that the lost dockets be found immediately and be taken to court.
“We also demand the suspension of corrupt officers as well as calling for their immediate arrests,” he said.
@siyaks
Cape Times
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