VEREENIGING – Scores of business people, came out in numbers sweeping the streets of the civic center as a parade that they are tired of “dirty” cops.
Gathering outside Sedibeng Cluster Police headquarters, the frustrated crowd carried placards, sang and chanted, “We are tired of being harassed”.
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Several placards carried by outraged demonstrators were written: “we are unlawfully tortured by police, stop treating us foreigners as animals, police must open cases accordingly”, among many others. Speaking to the Sedibeng Ster, the demonstrating foreign nationals said they have recently been robbed off R 700 000 by police who pretended to be raiding one of their stores.
When they tried to open a case against the same policemen, they were allegedly turned back. The business people demand the station commander to be removed from her duties.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, an Ethiopian community leader explained how police always rob them and refuse to open cases.
“We are losing a whole lot of money. We are losing millions when these police raid our shops. They often come to our stores without a search warrant and rob us. You see us cleaning the town, this is a sign of removing all the dirt in the civic center, not only literal dirt but even dirty and corrupt cops. We are tired of being robbed and treated like animals,” he said.
Vereeniging Business Cooperation(VBC) Director, Mpho Khambule said, “The local police station has forgotten that this country belongs to all who live in it. The constitution doesn’t say only those born in SA have rights but everyone living in it. Everyone has got a right to justice and safety. When these businessmen try to open cases, they are not given the opportunity”.
“We came to the regional offices because we have problems with the Vereeniging police station itself. The station commander told us that she doesn’t account to the community and doesn’t owe us anything. We want her removal because she doesn’t represent the people,” he said.
Khambule said police are showing the abuse of power and uniform.
“Police have turned to criminals; we want to stop this. Our business people can’t suffer because of stealing cops,” he said.
Social Cohesion and Nation building Movement’s Joseph Radebe condemned the criminal activity accusations leveled on cops.
“We condemn with strongest these acts of violence that are perpetuated against any African decedent. We can’t allow a situation where police who are supposed to protect us are being the ones who extort money. We are saying not every police is corrupt, but to those fewer individuals perpetuating these crimes, we want to send a very strong message that we cannot tolerate such injustices that is meted out on foreign nationals,” he said.
Sedibeng Cluster SAPS Colonel, Johannes Landman received the memorandum from the protesters on behalf of Sedibeng police Commissioner, Major General Zodwa Molefe.
Landman said he would commit to a meeting with the business owners as soon as he has spoken to Molefe about a date and time. The foreign nationals however said they were giving police seven days to come back to them.
