Durban - Police who parked their vehicles in bays designated for disabled and wheelchair-bound motorists came in for criticism at the weekend.
Irate shoppers at two shopping malls photographed police cars and vans parked in these bays and put them up on Facebook, which prompted a huge public outcry.
The parking bays have clear signboards warning motorists they were only meant for the disabled.
At Sandy Centre in Pinetown, two policewomen were engaged in a heated argument with motorists and shoppers on Friday afternoon.
Caylee Short said she was on the second floor of the building when she heard people shouting.
“I peered down and saw the cop van in the disabled parking. A lady, who was not disabled, parked them in to show that it was wrong. Two policewomen came out of the shop and started shouting at her. I heard the one cop say to a man ‘How do you know my brother or sister isn’t disabled?’”
The Facebook posting drew close to 800 “likes” in an hour and more than 100 comments.
Some people heaped praise on the driver who blocked the police in. Others hurled cynical remarks at the policewomen.
Some pondered why they were using a state vehicle to shop. Others said their wheels should have been clamped.
Then, on Sunday, Richard Leask photographed a police minibus parked in a disabled bay at Dirk Spar in Sarnia.
“Cop gets out vehicle and moves the beacon out the way in order for the driver to proceed into a paraplegic parking! Shocking,” he said.
The post also drew criticism from Facebook users.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said the SAPS KwaZulu-Natal management condemned irresponsible and inconsiderate conduct by the police officers.
“We embrace the rights of disabled persons and infringement of their rights as alleged cannot be tolerated. We will investigate these serious allegations of misconduct. We wish to unconditionally express our apology to the citizens affected and reiterate that such alleged conduct is in breach of police code of conduct.
“The public is encouraged to bring to the attention of the management any similar unacceptable conduct by the members of the SAPS for corrective and disciplinary measures to be instituted,” Naicker said.
Daily News