Duduza SAPS concerned about case withdrawals
Police are urging community members to desist from withdrawing cases when a person has already been arrested.
The Duduza SAPS has recently become concerned about the high number of cases opened and then withdrawn by complainants in court.
Most of these cases, according to Sergeant Harry Manaka, communications officer for Duduza SAPS, are reported after police arrest the perpetrators and the same complainants withdraw it.
The majority of these cases are domestic-related and include malicious damage to property and assaults.
“As the police, our main objective is preventing, combating and investigating crime,” Manaka said.
“We are mandated to act when a crime has been committed. This includes the arresting of suspected persons linked to a crime.
“It is concerning, however, that most of these cases are withdrawn by complainants the very next morning after a person has been arrested.
“This does not only amount to time and resource wasting, but delays and affects the provision of services to people who need it,” he said.
The police are urging the community to desist from withdrawing cases especially when a person has already been arrested.
“Rather allow the cases to be deferred for mediation or other means as prescribed by courts,” he concluded.
