Graskop residents insist on permanent removal of station commander
When some of the protesters did not find the commander at the station, they dispersed, but threatened to regroup and return if he was later spotted there again.
In a protest at the Graskop SAPS today, July 5, some residents and business owners demanded that the police station’s commander must be permanently removed, claiming they had been promised he would not return to the station after they had had him removed early in May.
According to the protesters, they were informed that the commander, who had been removed on May 2, had now returned to Graskop SAPS on orders from the provincial commissioner. They claimed they had been assured by a provincial SAPS delegation, which had visited the community when they locked the gates in May and demanded that the commander be removed, that he would never return.
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“As residents, we agreed this is totally unacceptable, since all the gains we had since he was removed will now be null and void, including the establishment of neighbourhood watches and improved communication between the residents and the SAPS.
“Residents and business owners agreed on a peaceful protest to the police station, but some roads may be blocked, on the condition that, should tourists want to visit or leave town, they would be permitted to do so. If this condition is not adhered to, the stakeholders must be called and appropriate action taken,” they said.
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The residents were decided to call the protest off after the commander was not found at the station, but promised to regroup and return if he was seen there station again. Some community members were burning tyres, but they were quickly dispersed and the road reopened. Many businesses were closed, but started to operate again after the protest.
A provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, said he was aware of the protest, and dismissed the allegation that the community was promised the commander would not return. “His leave is now finished, and he had to return to work and fight crime in the area. As for the community members, they must allow the station commander to do his policework, while the residents and business people should pay attention to their own businesses, because this protest will scare tourists and visitors to the area,” he said.
