‘Probe Toti police’ – DA
THE Democratic Alliance's shadow minister of police, Dianne Kohler Barnard has called for intervention from KZN police commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni regarding discipline among the police following several incidents involving police on the Upper South Coast.
“South of Durban today resembles the Wild West, with SAPS members acting with cast-iron impunity, and it appears their superiors are doing nothing to curb the abuse.The goings-on at the Toti SAP are of particular concern. Over 20 senior members have resigned from that station within the past 18 months. The reasons behind this mass-exodus must be revealed, and urgent steps must be taken to prove to civilians their safety is the prime concern of the SAPS,” she said.
In a fourth such case reported to me in the past few months, a gang of armed police invaded a private complex in eManzimtoti, pointed firearms, threatened to shoot residents, assaulted them, and attempted to cut through security chains. On attempting to open a case at Central Durban, the complainants were told the matter would be sent back to Toti station so that the police could, basically, investigate themselves,”
There have been three other high profile cases on the South Coast:
· Police officers shot at a woman’s car near Umkomaas, leading to her death, allegedly tried to cover up the fact that they had opened fire on her. Leanne Douglas died when her car overturned on the N2 as police pursued. The car was riddled with bullet holes. While a docket of murder and defeating the ends of justice has been opened no arrests have been made and the policemen are still on duty.
· Another gang of seven police, in full uniform, stormed a workshop in five marked police vehicles and a tow truck, and forcibly removing a vehicle belonging to a Toti policeman, Warrant Officer S’bu Boya in May 2013. The vehicle was taken from the shop floor, allegedly without the bill for the repairs being settled. Four of them are out on bail awaiting trial, but having paid a tiny R350 fine each to the SAPS, are back on duty.
· Just before New Year’s Eve, DA Councillor Andre Beetge, while doing his duty as a ward councillor in Toti, had a firearm pointed in his face, was threatened with death, with incarceration, sworn at, and head-butted in the face – all by a senior SAPS officer. Although a case was opened and the matter also reported to the IPID, there has been no feedback. The officer concerned is still on duty.
