Police ignore calls
The owner of one business and the manager of another claim that crimes against business are being ignored by the police.
POLOKWANE – The owner of one business and the manager of another claim that crimes against business are being ignored by the police.
A member of the management team of Alert Engine Parts, who did not wish to be identified, said their business was broken into on February 14.
He said they discovered the burglary on February 15 with everything in the offices in disarray.
He said the thieves had entered the building through the roof and disabled the alarm system. “Employees who attempted to contact the police by dialling 10111, reached a control room in Gauteng and were referred to the Mokopane police station when they informed the police they were calling from Polokwane,” he said.
“We even sent one of our employees to the Polokwane police station to ask the police officials to come to our premises, but said she was told that the police were changing shifts and that no police officials were available.
“The only time we did receive service from the police was when the branch manager got hold of the station commander and only then did the police come to the business on the morning of February 16.”
Jamil Muhammad, the owner of an electronics and cell phone store in the city, said he was the victim of a robbery over a week ago and tried to report the robbery to the police several times.
He said he was either told that they were changing shifts, that they were out for lunch, or that they had no vehicles available.
“I even offered to take the police officials to the premises myself, but was told that the police officials at the police station could not leave their posts,” Mohammad said.
Polokwane police spokesperson, WO Lesiba Ramoshaba, said there was no excuse for any police officials not doing their jobs. He said there were more than enough manpower and vehicles available.
He urged residents to make sure that, when they reported a matter, to take note of the name of the police official they spoke to.
He said should any police officials be found guilty of neglecting their duties, they would be dealt with; as such behaviour would not be tolerated.
Polokwane station commander Brig Tom Shingange spoke at a CPF meeting and said dereliction of duty would be punished.
