Police ask Gomorrah residents to provide proof of “corrupt officers”
"We are ready to work with all the community structures and to treat everyone in Hercules equally."
After several attempts, Hercules police station tried to approach the residents from Gomorrah informal settlement to reach an agreement with the settlers after a protest action in November last year.
Angry residents from the informal settlement in the west of Pretoria marched to Hercules police station demanding that the top management step down as they are “corrupt.”
The residents residing in the first established section of the 25-year-old settlement also complained about unresolved cases in the settlement as well as after-hours dispersion of liquor places.
Hercules police spokesperson Captain Bonginkosi Msimango mentioned that no list of demands was provided to the station commander after several attempts to get it after the protest.
“However, shebeens will be closed as long as they are not compliant with the law and illegal,” he said.
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One of the leaders of Gomorrah informal settlement, Elmon Boshielo, handed over a memorandum to the station.
He claimed that “five black police officers at the station are corrupt and need to be replaced”.
“This includes the current station commander, Colonel Christine Peta Tsoaedi. She needs to be replaced by a “white” commander.
“We as a community also want the police members at the station to be replaced by white officers,” he said.
“Hercules police offers are condoning crime.
“Gomorrah is a dangerous settlement in terms of gangs and we want equal treatment of all community members without any favours,” Boshielo said.
Msimango said the community must provide the names of the alleged corrupt members.
“The community must provide the names of the alleged community leaders who collect funds of the businesses community in the name of Sanco. Such individuals must be reported to the relevant umbrella structures,” Msimango said.
Hercules police station commander, Tsoaedi, was present during the protest action.
“I will respond to the points addressed and keep you (Gomorrah residents) informed,” she said.
However, Msimango said they have tried to reach out to Gomorrah residents to address their concerns.
“We are ready to work with all the community structures and treat everyone in Hercules equally,” he said.
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