Sunday, May 19, 2013

Crimes of the South African Police Service




Cops trade insults at hearing
22 Feb 2013 | Katlego Moeng Crime Reporter

"You are a police officer with five years experience, and you do not know that you are not supposed to drink when you are carrying your service pistol?


TENSIONS ran high at the Brakpan Magistrate's Court yesterday when a local detective in the SAPS appeared in connection with the murder of an Ekurhuleni metro police officer.
Siviwe Ndyoki, 28, of Tsakane is accused of shooting EMPD officer Popi Maseko on Sunday, February 10, while she was on duty. During the lunch break, officers from the two departments traded insults.
The families of Ndyoki and Maseko attended the proceedings, as did their [accused and deceased] colleagues, some in uniform.
Before the bail hearing began, all officers in attendance were instructed to hand in their firearms.
Ndyoki said he did not intend to kill anyone that day. He was off duty, and the incident happened at about 8pm, he told the court.
He said he was involved in a car accident, after which the metro police were called. He said the officers did breathalyser tests and told him he was drunk and that he should get into their car.
Ndyoki admitted to having drunk two pints of beer.
He said he sat behind the front passenger seat in the metro police vehicle. He said another man, a civilian, also got in and sat behind the driver's seat.
Ndyoki said he thought he was being driven to the police station but was surprised to see the female officer driving to Pholosong Hospital.
He said he started arguing with the male officer in the front passenger seat after he asked for R150, saying they would go back to the accident scene if he paid. He said during the argument, the male officer pointed a gun at him.
"I immediately drew my firearm, which already had a bullet in the chamber. The civilian grabbed my gun. I struggled with him and two shots went off."
He said he jumped out of the vehicle and ran, leaving the pistol with the civilian.
He said he then ran to a nearby house where he hid.
Magistrate Anita Snyman was not amused: "You are a police officer with five years experience, and you do not know that you are not supposed to drink when you are carrying your service pistol?
"You hide in someone's yard and you do not ask for assistance? You are a police officer but you run away from a scene?"
The hearing continues.