Missing woman’s husband accuses Jeppe SAPS of poor service
He said he went to the station to open a missing person's case and was turned away by officers inside the client service centre.
Bez Valley resident Elias Mashala has accused Jeppe SAPS of bad service.
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He said he went to the station to open a missing person’s case and was turned away by officers inside the client service centre.
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Mashala said he had an argument with his wife Nolwazi Mazinyani on May 10.
“We solved the problem and we went to sleep. The following morning I woke up and went to work as usual. When I came back in the evening the house was empty. She had taken our two-month-old son Alfa Tshepo Mashala and all her belongings and left. I didn’t ask around about their whereabouts as I thought she could be at her father’s house. She usually goes there whenever we have arguments.
“On May 12 I woke up and went to work again. When I came back from work, she was still not at home. I went to ask her friends but they did not know her whereabouts. On May 14, I went to her parent’s place.
“When I arrived, they told me that she said she was going to Alberton where she once worked. I explained to her father what transpired the night before she left.
“I called 10111 to report a missing person but I was advised to go to the nearest police station to open a case. I went to Jeppe SAPS on May 15.
“I explained my problem to the officer at the client service centre who instead told me to investigate the matter myself. A female officer told me the SAPS won’t be able to assist me as I had had an argument with her. I explained to them that she might be lost but the officer told me to leave.
“I left but went back to Jeppe SAPS the same day and spoke to a different police officer. I explained my problem again but he too refused to help me. I am looking for my wife Nolwazi Mazinyani and I need help to bring her home safe with our son,” he said.
Jeppe SAPS spokesperson Captain Richard Munyayi said the station was not aware of the incident.
“The complainant must come to the police station to open a case. In case he is turned away he must ask to see the relief commander of the shift that is working to report the matter,” he said.
Munyayi said SAPS officers are not allowed to turn away residents who want to open cases.
“All officers at the station are here to assist the community. It is our core function and our mission and we are all bound to do that with no excuse.
“I must emphasise that the station will open a missing person case if indeed his wife is missing and her whereabouts are not known, unless otherwise, if the complainant knows where she is as he indicated that he had an argument with her on May 10 and she packed her belongings and left with their son, maybe she had moved out of the house after the argument, but that the officers should hear the complainant’s story and a case will be open if indeed she is missing,” he said.
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