Monday, July 23, 2012

Crimes of the South African Police Service

East Cape cop arrested for fraud in Butterworth

19 July 2011
A police constable was arrested for fraud and usuage of a state vehicle without consent, in Butterworth, Eastern Cape police said today (19/07/2011).

   "The three counts of fraud related to a petrol card but we cannot disclose more information on that," said Captain Ernest Sigobe.

   The 33-year-old officer, who was stationed at the Family, Violence, and Children Protection Unit, was arrested on Monday and is due to appear in the Willowvale Magistrate’s Court.

  Sigobe said he would also face an internal disciplinary hearing. - Sapa

http://www.peherald.com/news/article/2122



Crimes of the South African Police Service

Top cops sidelined in probe
25 April 2012

TWO of Grahamstown’s top police officers have been sidelined pending an investigation into allegations of racism and mismanagement at the station. Grahamstown station commander Brigadier Morgan Govender and divisional support head Colonel Dumizani Mapukata have been temporarily transferred to the area manager’s office following internal squabbles.

An investigation was launched last week after the provincial head office received a report alleging mismanagement and racism was rife at the police station.

Mapukata and Govender were instructed by the provincial head office on Friday to report to the office of cluster commander Brigadier Vakala Moyake, and to remain there for the duration of the probe.

Moyake will take on a double role as commander of the Grahamstown station and cluster office.

Senior officials at the station described the investigation as a "smear campaign” after a disagreement between Govender and Mapukata.

The officials, who declined to be named, said Govender had been accused of using an autocratic management style and mismanagement.

However, a senior officer described Govender as a "good commander who has a different but fair and strict” way of managing.

Some officers said the complaint against Govender was "a revenge attack” by other officers who had been reprimanded for not pulling their weight.

"There was a disagreement between Govender and Mapukata after he [Govender] refused to sign a document regarding the financing of a house for a female captain who had transferred to Grahamstown,” the officer said.

"The document was not cleared because it did not go through the correct procedures.

"This seems to have led to the officer trying to rally support to bring Govender down and oust him.”

There are also two criminal cases of crimen injuria against Mapukata for allegedly yelling and screaming at officers based at the station.

Due to the complaint being between top ranks, provincial police established a senior team – including Motherwell police station commander Brigadier Keith Meyer – to investigate the accusations.

Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills confirmed the investigation. "The provincial commissioner’s office is busy with an internal investigation with regard to allegations levelled against the station commander of Grahamstown by one of his staff members, an officer,” she said.

"At the same time, the station commander has levelled allegations against this officer.”

Mills refused to provide further details, but confirmed that Govender and Mapukata had been temporarily transferred.

"It is not seen as fair to both parties to make the allegations known without a proper investigation being done,” she said.

"Once the investigation is finalised, consideration will be given with regard to information released to the media.”

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union provincial secretary Simphiwe Komna said both officers involved were members of the union.

"The matter is very sensitive and I cannot reveal anything relating to it,” he said.

"I can, however, confirm that grievances have been laid and that we are allowing the internal process to unfold.”

Govender – husband of Grahamstown police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender – was the commander of the Port

Alfred police station before being transferred to Grahamstown in May 2009.

http://www.peherald.com/news/article/5794













Crimes of the South African Police Service


Last chance for cops in spear case, SAPS lashed
Sapa | 28 June, 2012 13:09

'The Spear', defaced last week, is no longer hanging at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg and has been removed from the City Press website
A magistrate lost patience with the police on Thursday in a court case arising from the defacing of a controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma.
Johan Engelbrecht said the police had one last chance to complete their investigation, or the matter would be struck from the roll.
"This situation has reached alarming proportions," he said at the appearance of the two accused in the Hillbrow Magistrate's Court.
"I have become tired of complaining about the SA Police Service and their conduct on a daily basis."
Barend la Grange and Louis Mabokela are accused of defacing artist Brett Murray's painting "The Spear" -- an acrylic depicting President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed. It was part of Murray's Hail to the Thief II exhibition at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.
The ruling African National Congress was alerted to the painting after an article appeared in City Press newspaper. The gallery refused its demand that the painting be removed.
On May 22, La Grange and Mabokela were filmed painting over the already sold work with red and black paint. They face charges of malicious damage to property. Both are out on bail of R1000 each and have not been asked to plead yet.
La Grange and Mabokela stood in the dock while prosecutor Frederik Bukes said a further postponement would be necessary. This was because the investigating officer had not complied with any of the instructions given at the previous proceedings of May 23.
The investigating officer was also not in court, Bukes said, to which Engelbrecht replied, "of course".
September 4, was suggested as the next court date.
Engelbrecht reacted by saying: "I am alarmed by the fact that the investigating officer has found it necessary to not make himself available today, and not explain why he didn't comply with the prosecutor's instructions.
"My concern is that the police in this area have lost their vision and have forgotten that they are there to serve the public."
Engelbrecht said he could not decide whether the police were sabotaging cases, were lazy, or incompetent.
He likened the situation to police brutality. When people were arrested, they had to pay lawyers and they might have to wait in police cells.
"This is also a form of police brutality. It seems to me that the police do not understand their duty. It is easy to turn the lock of the key in the cell door, but it is not easy to finish the process."
Engelbrecht said he would not hesitate to the strike the matter off the roll on September 4, if the situation remained the same.
A third man, George Moyo, was arrested for spray-painting "res", the first syllable of "respect", on a wall outside the Goodman Gallery. He appeared in the Hillbrow Magistrate's Court separately on Wednesday and was also out on R1000 bail.
Security guard Paul Molesiwa, who was filmed flipping Mabokela to the ground after he was apprehended, was also arrested, for assault, and was also out on R1000 bail.









Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cops jump the gun in 'weapons cache' court case
12 Jun 2012 | Mogomotsi Selebi | 3 comments
MURDER charges against five men suspected of killing a teenager have been withdrawn in the Germiston Magistrate's Court.

OFF THE HOOK: Susanna Harmse with her husband Abraham outside the Germiston Magistrate's Court yesterday. Murder charges against Harmse were withdrawn. PHOTO: SIBUSISO MSIBI
Wesley Courtney, 27, Christopher Duvenage, 25, Daniel Harmse 19, Abraham Harmse, 50, and Christopher Harmse were all charged with the murder of 15-year-old Sibusiso Titimani after the teenager died in Primrose two weeks ago.
Together with Abraham's wife Susanna, they were also charged with illegal possession of firearms.
However, the murder charge against them was withdrawn following what magistrate Deon Snyman labelled "a weak case".
It emerged that during an identity parade last week, witnesses could not point the suspects out of the line up.
Snyman, without directly naming the police, said they would be embarrassed.
"Someone will end up with mud on their faces and will be embarrassed. I read in the newspapers that the suspects were AWB members who went around killing black children," Snyman said.
That was in reference to an article in a daily newspaper that referred to Duvenage as a member of the right-wing organisation.
"People came to court this morning with placards, meanwhile the suspects were not pointed out [from the line up]," Snyman said.
He said the state had a weak case and that it was "always better if you have all the evidence".
The accused were arrested at their home and an assortment of "weapons" was seized.
However, it has emerged that the guns were not even real, but pellet guns. Their attorney Boela van der Merwe blamed the police for causing distress to his clients.
"A wrong message was sent out and this case was not properly investigated. The police jumped to the wrong conclusion," Van der Merwe said.
He also denied that his clients were racists and added: "They do not belong to any political party, including the AWB."
Duvenage however has an attempted murder case and will appear again on July 13. - selebim@sowetan.co.za



Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cops bust for help in heist and for fraud
09 Jul 2012 | Frank Maponya Limpopo Bureau Chief | 5 comments
Policeman attached to Johannesburg airport arrested on charges of defeating the ends of justice AND another policeman previously attached to the Hawks bust for offering to make a case 'disappear'
The Hawks in Limpopo have arrested a 31-year-old police constable attached to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
The arrest followed an investigation into a cash-in-transit robbery at the Mokone Shell garage in Polokwane in May, when four men held Coin Security guards at gunpoint and stole three boxes containing an undisclosed amount of cash.
They took off in a BMW that was later found abandoned two kilometres from the scene.
Limpopo police spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi yesterday said: "The investigations led the Hawks to Gauteng, where it is alleged the constable had aided the suspects to escape."
He said the constable was arrested in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg, and was disarmed of his service pistol.
The suspect will appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court today.
Other suspects are still on the run.
  • In an unrelated incident, a 43-year-old policeman previously attached to the Hawks in Polokwane has been dismissed after he was found guilty of fraud.
Warrant Officer Edward Rabohlale Hlaraka was arrested after receiving a R700 bribe in November last year.
A complainant had allegedly lent R250,000 to a woman who then attempted to repay the money with a fraudulent cheque.
Hlaraka demanded R700 from the fraud suspect to destroy the docket. He allegedly demanded a further R10,000 to destroy the case.
Mulaudzi said Hlaraka was given a total of R1,300 in instalments.
He said a trap was set for Hlaraka in which he was found with R400 in notes that matched the state's trap money.
Hawks head in Limpopo Major-General Dibero Molatjana said yesterday the dismissal should serve as warning that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that members of the Hawks who are inclined to criminality were exposed and dealt with "accordingly".
- frankm@sowetan.co.za
http://www.axxess.co.za/news/articles/Cops+bust+for+help+in+heist+and+for+fraud







Crimes of the South African Police Service

Traffic officers cry nepotism
19 July 2012
‘INTERNAL’ DISPUTE: Nelson Mandela Bay traffic officers protest over the suspension of their union leaders outside the City Hall yesterday Picture: BRIAN WITBOOI

ABOUT 200 Nelson Mandela Bay traffic officers protested outside the City Hall yesterday in a bid to highlight alleged nepotism by authorities in the short- listing and interviewing of candidates for posts in the municipality.

Three shop stewards affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) were suspended last Friday for allegedly trying to block alleged irregular processes by their employer in recruiting candidates.

Traffic officers who spoke to The Herald on condition of anonymity said the recruitment process was flawed and their leaders were being victimised for highlighting the issue.

Traffic officers claimed the employer recruited inexperienced family members.

Three officials – Liboy Nangu, Nobantu Mgudlandlu and another identified only as Nazo – were suspended for trying to put a stop to the alleged irregularities.

A number of officers then staged a sit-in at the reception area of metro traffic chief Hamilton Nzotoyi at the Sidwell Traffic Department on Tuesday, while another delegation met with him in his office.

This was followed by another meeting at the City Hall the same evening, attended by politicians, management and union officials.

All parties agreed that the suspensions would be lifted and that acting municipal manager Themba Hani would sign the agreement. However Hani, who was not at the meeting, refused to do so.

This angered unionised traffic officers, who descended on the City Hall yesterday and demanded the immediate lifting of the suspension of their three colleagues.

"The parties reached an agreement on Tuesday but he refuses to sign for the suspension to be lifted,” a union official said.

Municipal spokesman Roland Williams said he was unable to comment as it was an internal human resources matter.
http://www.peherald.com/news/article/7427

Bay riot cops fail firearm test
13 March 2012

NELSON Mandela Bay’s elite riot police unit is in disarray after about half its officers failed their firearm competency course.

This means they cannot carry or use weapons until they complete – and pass – a second test.

The shocking news comes only a week after the Sunday Times revealed that an internal audit team had found more than 27000 operational police officers around the country had failed their firearm proficiency test.

The same report highlighted that almost half of the 16123 operational members in the Eastern Cape had not yet been trained in terms of the Firearm Act of 2004. Police training includes the basic use of firearms such as semi-automatic rifles, 9mm pistols and shotguns.

The Nelson Mandela Bay public order policing unit, based in Struandale, Port Elizabeth, is responsible for responding to riots and is also involved in special operations in crime hotspots.

The team is currently involved in an ongoing operation in Gelvandale aimed at combating gang warfare.

But the number involved in the operation has dropped since last week because some members failed the firearm competency test.

Policing experts said it was "extremely worrying” and the provincial police office would have to explain how they had let members join a team which was meant to be well trained.

After failing the test last week, the officers were told they were not allowed to work on the streets until they passed the test. A date has not be set yet for a second test.

Stunned police officials said yesterday the POP unit was an "embarrassment” and "in disarray”.

One senior officer, who cannot be named as he is not authorised to talk to the media, said between 60 and 70 officers attached to the unit, mostly new recruits in the police, had failed the test.

"They have all been told to redo the test and have since been told that they are not allowed to work on the streets,” he said.

Another officer, who is not based at the unit, said it was shocking that the recruits had been accepted into the police in the first place.

"This is a job dependent on saving lives – and this sometimes means the use of a gun,” he said. "What happens if I get shot by one of my own colleagues because they don’t know how to use a gun?”

A police officer should be issued with a permit directly after completing a 10-month on-site basic training programme. The permit is issued before the student constable can enter the workplace phase of training, which is for one year.

After this, the student constable goes back to the training college for a two-month integrated assessment phase. All firearm training is part of the course.

Policing expert and former police commissioner Dr Johan Burger said if they failed a second time, the members should either be transferred to an admin post where they were not required to carry a firearm, or not be recruited into the police.

"I have heard national senior management is investigating how these officers got into the police. The minister’s office has also shown some concern with regard to this.”

He said training facilities pushing student officers through when they were not proficient with firearms was an issue highlighted in the past.

Provincial police spokeswoman Brigadier Marinda Mills said police were addressing the issue of the failed tests. She said a formal statement would be issued later.

Senior sources at the national police head office said a meeting with various provincial commissioners was scheduled to take place today to discuss the firearm competency issue in all provinces.


http://www.peherald.com/news/article/5280




Crimes of the South African Police Service

 ‘Unstable’ police officers to work as security guard



 ‘UNSTABLE’ POLICE OFFICERS TO WORK AS SECURITY GUARDS
By Victor Boqo
Photo : Victor Boqo
2012-04-06 01:00

The NW police head office main entrance, which is one of the stations that the police will have to guard day and night. Photo: Victor Boqo

Security companies that have been contracted by provincial police have been shown the door. They will be replaced by police officers that have been declared unsuitable to work under normal police circumstances. The colonels, lieutenants and detectives will be deployed to guard police stations as from1 April.
Police officers that are included in the definition are those who suffer from epilepsy, post-traumatic stress syndrome, bipolar disorder, depression or other psychiatric illnesses. Other police officers including those who can not carry firearms or contravene the firearm act or that have been found guilty of domestic violence will also be included.
Brig. Thulani Ngubane, provincial police spokesperson confirmed that, ‘As from 1 April, the police are expected to take over the duties of security companies, whose contracts will not be renewed when they expire on April 1. This is a national directive from the office of the National Commissioner, that we will use our own members to perform those duties as this is an effort to save money and improve service delivery.’
This is also per directive of doctors’ instructions to help rehabilitate police members who cannot, or are unfit to, work in a pressured environment as described in the SAPS act.
“People should not make this a big issue and it are not about ranks of the police but systems that is put in place and we, as the police, don’t regard our members as guards but as the police officers. This has been done in line with the labour act, it does not contravene its laws and it is in agreement with labour unions,” said Ngubane.
The police officers will be monitoring people’s movements and protecting state assets. Full uniforms will be worn without any guns. Night shifts are also compulsory.
Some police officers spoke to the Herald anonymously and stated that this has caused a lot of havoc.
They are threatening to resign.’We are really traumatised and demoralised. How can we work as guards without a firearm as there is an escalation of police attacks and crime? We are going to become crime targets. We are going to be the laughing stock of everybody as people will now know that those who are working as guards are unstable.
We were not even informed about this new change and only heard about it through the media. Our unions have failed us.’
When contacting POPCRU,(Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union), in the province, the provincial chairperson, Mr Solly Lekhu said, ‘We are amazed about these changes and it has caught us by a surprise. We have not been informed by the SAPS provincial office. As POPCRU we are not going to support this. It affects the working conditions of the police officers and if the top police officials impose it, we will inform our members not to work. The SAPS cannot try to save money for service delivery at the expense of our members. We are seeking a very urgent meeting with the provincial commissioner, Lt. Gen. Merriam Mbombo,” said Lekhu.
Another union provincial organiser, Mr Innocent Maimane from SAPU (SA police union) said, “At no stage did we agree with the police officials to take such a decision and to force our members to work as guards. It is only here in the North West province. SAPU headquarters are not aware of this.
We are challenging this decision and what is most disturbing, is the fact that the police officers’ medical conditions are now exposed.”
http://www.potchefstroomherald.co.za/18502/news-details/%E2%80%98unstable-police-officers-to-work-as-security-gua









Crimes of the South African Police Service



Crimes of the South African Police Service

Elite cop in vehicle theft probe

03 May 2012

A MEMBER of Nelson Mandela Bay’s elite police tactical response team (TRT) is being investigated for his alleged role in a car theft syndicate operating in the Bay.

Constable Sinethemba Gwadiso of Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, was arrested with three other men – Shaun Bennet, 19, Zolani Ngcidolo, 22, and Mzandile Sebana, 34 – while allegedly trying to steal a Mazda parked in Mosel Road, Uitenhage, on Friday night.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said two police officers became suspicious when they saw the four fiddling with the car.

"When they went to investigate, they found an Allen key in the door of a Mazda,” she said.

"When the men saw the police van approaching, one of them pretended to be urinating near the vehicle and he was then joined by two other men who had been seated in a nearby car.

"All four men were searched and the officers found a driver’s licence and various cards belonging to someone else in one of the men’s pockets.

"While police were escorting the suspects to the police station, they received a call about a Nissan bakkie that had been stolen in Mosel Road, not far from where the suspects were found,” Naidu said.

"It turns out that the driver’s licence and cards found on one of the suspects belonged to the owner of the bakkie.”

The Uitenhage vehicle inspection section is investigating whether the four are linked to any other vehicle theft cases.

The men appeared in the Uitenhage Magistrate’s Court on Monday and all – with the exception of Sebana – were released on R1000 bail.

Senior officers close to the investigation said Gwadiso’s suspension papers had been sent to provincial commissioner General Celiwe Binta’s office for a decision.

"We have recommended his suspension and suspect he will be suspended by the end of the week,” one officer said.

Gwadiso’s arrest comes barely a year after two members of the same unit were arrested for allegedly beating Somali shop owner Osman Nuur Mohamed to death in Kwazakhele in February last year.

Months later an eyewitness in that case, Alli Abdul Omaar, 30, was shot dead inside the same shop and a few days after that the second key witness, Abdullah Mohammed Sheik, was beaten unconscious by two balaclava-clad men and left for dead on the side of the road.

The two TRT members were released on R1000 bail each.

In an unrelated incident, another TRT constable was arrested in August for allegedly shooting Nigerian Raymond Ojini, 40, in the shoulder during a heated late-night argument in Central. He fled the scene but was arrested hours later and two police firearms were allegedly found hidden in the vehicle.

The increase in incidents involving the TRT prompted Independent Police Investigative Directorate director Francois Beukman to warn police management to "instill discipline and have command and control over members ... attached to special units”.

He said there had been "numerous reports of unwarranted attacks on civilians” by the elite unit.


http://www.peherald.com/news/article/5927

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Zuma adviser to sue police
21 December 2011

Presidential adviser Zizi Kodwa is suing Police Minister Nathi Mtethwa and acting national police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for R5 million after he was wrongfully arrested, it was reported today (21/12/2011).
Kodwa was stopped and arrested by police in Rosebank, Johannesburg on November 11 on suspicion of drunk driving.
Police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila told The Star newspaper police received blood results from a test taken on the night, and it confirmed that there was no alcohol in Kodwa’s system.
Kodwa’s lawyer Gugulethu Madlanga said Kodwa was pursuing the suit, and a summons would be issued in 30 days.
On Tuesday Kodwa took to social media site Twitter to express his views.     “Blood sample results are back, alcohol in my blood: ZERO, I told them banyile ngekhe ndibayeke [They are in shit, I won’t let it go],” he tweeted.
Last week Kodwa said:”I want to clear my name. They [the blood tests] will come out negative. I have no doubt about that. It’s not  about my role in the presidency. It’s about my reputation.
“I want to protect South Africans from abuse of authority by police officers.”    Kodwa said he believed his arrest was about a ”bribe not paid.”
He was scheduled to face the drunk driving charge at the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court on May 11. - Sapa

http://www.peherald.com/news/article/4149