Rietgat community urged to tell on crooked cops
As part of community engagements, the Rietgat SAPS recently visited Uthando primary school.
Rietgat SAPS station commander Brigadier Molatelo Maphoto encouraged Block R residents not to shy away from reporting corrupt police officials during a community engagement meeting at Uthando primary school this weekend.
As part of a series of its engagements recently, the Rietgat SAPS visited Uthando to discuss issues affecting residents, as well as solutions.
Maphoto was accompanied by detective-commander Colonel Molamudi who also encouraged residents to report rogue police officers if they want to combat crime convincingly.
Molamudi told residents to photograph police vehicles that are seen collecting money from criminals and businesses, emphasising that the role of the police is to serve, not steal.
Molamudi went as far as to give residents gathered his personal phone number and implored them to call with their grievances whenever frustrated that they cannot get a hold of the police.
Residents were also encouraged to desist from vigilantism when dealing with criminals but instead conduct citizen arrests, then call authorities to handle perpetrators lawfully.
Maphoto highlighted the importance of tip-offs in fighting crime, suggesting that the act of calling in and reporting crimes bridges the gap between police and the community.
Other issues raised by residents during the engagement include not knowing where to report crimes and a lack of patrol visibility.
One disgruntled resident Malumi aired their frustrations saying: “We want assurance from the police that they want to work with us, have the personnel, physical resources… don’t tell us you will assist and when we call you then you don’t respond positively”.
Malumi gave residents crime patterns the police have picked up on, including where the crimes are most committed, the victims targeted, and the days that crimes are most likely to occur. Malumi described the crooked police as “dragging the name of the service in the mud” while reiterating the need to report these officials.
Maphoto concluded by suggesting that the meeting was not organised to bash and shame one another but rather to build the bonds with the residents committed to making a stronger Rietgat.
“This meeting is not about blaming each other, call me and inform me about what my vehicles are doing. These cars are not for jolling or buying groceries,” concluded Maphoto.
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