Internal investigation opened after pensioner turned away from Garsfontein police station
A Menlo Park pensioner says she was turned away from Garsfontein Police Station when trying to report a missing laptop, prompting SAPS to launch an internal investigation and disciplinary action against the officer involved.
Police have opened an internal investigation after a Menlo Park resident said she was denied the opportunity to open a case at Garsfontein Police Station.
Manda Hinsch said she visited the station after discovering that one of her laptops had gone missing while travelling between Bela-Bela and Pretoria. The laptop is valued at about R10 000, but Hinsch said the software linked to her sewing business was worth considerably more and required a case number for deactivation and recovery.
“I was not allowed to report a case at Garsfontein and the station was not even busy at the time,” Hinsch said. She was told that because she lives in Menlo Park, which falls within the Brooklyn policing precinct, she could not open the case at Garsfontein.
According to Hinsch, officers instructed her to return home and said members from Brooklyn Police Station would visit to take her statement. “I was told to go straight home as police officers from Brooklyn would come and take my statement at home.”
However, the promised visit never materialised. “That never happened. I received a call that evening telling me to go to Brooklyn.”
As a pensioner, Hinsch said the arrangement caused unnecessary travel and inconvenience. “In my opinion, the solution provided by Garsfontein was an abuse of resources and caused me, as a pensioner, to travel again to Brooklyn.”
The SAPS has responded, confirming that members of the public may open criminal cases at any police station in the country, regardless of where the incident occurred.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the matter had been referred to station management.
“The matter was brought to the attention of the station management and efforts are currently underway to locate the complainant to take a statement from them and lodge a formal complaint against the police.”
Nevhuhulwi added that disciplinary action would be considered and a case instituted against the officer in question, and she stressed that no member of the public should be turned away when seeking assistance.
“Members of the public can and are allowed to open cases anywhere in the country, irrespective of where the crime was committed,” she said.
She encouraged residents who are dissatisfied with service at police stations to report the matter to station commanders or district commissioners. Complaints can also be lodged through the SAPS National Service Complaints line on 0800 701 701 or the Gauteng Service Complaints standby number on 082 442 2000.
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