Sunday, June 9, 2013

Crimes of the South African Police Service



500 demand justice



The leader of the DA in Limpopo, Jacques Smalle ...show more leads more than 500 people in a march against abuse against women and children. Photo: Supplied ...show less

The DA marched to Modjadjiskloof police station last Friday to hand over a memorandum of demands to the station’s management.
27 March 2013 | Riana Joubert

The DA marched to Modjadjiskloof police station last Friday to hand over a memorandum of demands to the station’s management.
The march follows the laying of a charge by the DA's Limpopo leader, Jacques Smalle, at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in Polokwane on March 5, resulting from the police failing to open a case for a woman who had been assaulted by her husband over the weekend of March 2 and 3.
As a result of the inaction by the police the woman sustained further beatings, stab wounds and sexual assault from the husband and was later admitted to Letaba Hospital.
Read more..........



Crimes of the South African Police Service


Judge throws out cop’s assault appeal

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An appeal by a police constable against her conviction for an assault on a member of the public not only failed, but her attempt caused a Pretoria High Court acting judge to voice his dissatisfaction at the “police brutality” and “complete disrespect” shown for the privacy of a Limpopo family.

03 April 2013

According to http://www.iol.co.za An appeal by a police constable against her conviction for an assault on a member of the public not only failed, but her attempt caused a Pretoria High Court acting judge to voice his dissatisfaction at the “police brutality” and “complete disrespect” shown for the privacy of a Limpopo family.
This was after 30 police officers – 29 women and one man – raided the home of a Limpopo spaza shop owner as they suspected he was selling alcohol illegally. They could find only one crate of beer in the house, which the owner said was for his consumption.
The police not only forced the man to pay a R300 fine on the spot, but one of the group, Constable Raesibe Bushy Montjane assaulted the homeowner’s young daughter.
His daughter was sprayed in the face with pepper spray, and slapped and kicked because she was “disrespectful” towards the police.
The young woman was so badly injured she had to receive treatment at a hospital.
Judge Piet van der Byl, in turning down Montjane’s appeal, said he was satisfied that what the evidence showed was nothing but police brutality and complete disrespect for the family’s privacy.
“The accused can regard herself lucky that she was not convicted on a charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm,” said Judge Van der Bijl.
He added that the policewoman was also lucky she had not received a heftier sentence than a R500 fine.
“It boggles the mind why such an extraordinarily large contingent consisting of 30 police officers was, amid the unacceptable wave of serious crime in our country, assigned to search the house of the witness and to force him to pay a fine of R300 after having found a measly case of beer in their house… which the witness said was his property and acquired for his personal use,” said the judge.
Theresho Mashabela testified in a Limpopo magistrate’s court that she was at her parental home on July 22, 2010, washing dishes, when about 30 police officers arrived at the house. All but one were women. They told her they wanted to search the house. The police found nothing, but insisted on going through the house again, Mashabela said.
She asked them what they were looking for, as they had just searched the house. She was told she was disrespectful and Montjane slapped her and kicked her. The witness said while the other officers again searched the house, Montjane kept on assaulting her and forced her to open the fridges.
The policewoman then pushed the young woman on to a bed, squirted pepper spray at her and covered her face with a plastic bag. Mashabela said the bag was then removed and she was ordered to face the male officer, who photographed her. She was handcuffed and the handcuffs were removed only after her parents arrived at the house and ordered the police to remove them.
She was later taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Her father, Hendrik Mashabela, testified that the police arrived at his spaza shop and bought avocados and atchar, as they said they were hungry. He thought they were going to eat their food before leaving, but the next moment he heard his daughter screaming from the main house. He ran to her aid and found her handcuffed.
When he asked the police what they were doing in his house, they said they “searched nowadays” and they did not provide a search warrant, as “people would hide things”.
Montjane acknowledged the police had searched the house for alcohol, but denied assaulting the youngster. Her colleague and commander that day also denied the assault and said “she would have never allowed it”.
But the judge said the evidence clearly pointed to Montjane as being the assailant.










Crimes of the South African Police Service


Hire Your Own Security if You are Not Happy

The police have advised the Mohamed sisters, Sijraiya and Fazeela to hire their own security officers, after they complained to the police that people were urinating and excreting on the pavement outside their café.
19 November 2012 | Nyambeni Mandiwana

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MAKHADO - The police have advised the Mohamed sisters, Sijraiya and Fazeela to hire their own security officers, after they complained to the police that people were urinating and excreting on the pavement outside their café.
The café is located at  Makhado Eltivillas, popularly known as the Indian Centre.
The sisters say the problem is particularly a problem on Mondays, when the people drink nearby over the weekend.
Fazeela said she cleans the area with strong chemicals everyday to fight the smell, and that they had lost customers due to the stench.
"We reported the matter to the head of the police’s firearm and liquor control, Lt Ben Bezuidenhout and the chairperson of the Limpopo liquor board, but they did not do anything about it," she said.
"When we rebuke the drunkards, they call us names. They also broke the window of the shop," said Fazeela.
"We don't know who to report the matter to now because  law enforcement has turned their back on us. I called a senior police officer to   hide in my shop to see how we are treated by these drunk people, and while he was there people urinated on the entrance of our café. Instead of arresting them, he just laughed," she said.
"Municipal workers refuse to remove the excrement, and I have been forced to hire a man who charges me R30 per excrement," she said.
The Makhado police spokesperson, Capt Maano Sadiki said he was engaging with Bezuidenhout to ensure the sisters were protected against unlawful activities.
 Sadiki said the police would patrol the premises and the liquor outlet owner would also be engaged about the matter.
He advised the sisters to hire their own security officers to monitor the café when the police are patrolling other areas.




Crimes of the South African Police Service

Police “hero” arrested

Sipho Mogale Sebela.
A young man who became an instant hero after rescuing two policemen, has been arrested for motor vehicle theft and house breaking.
18 July 2012 | Matome Maila

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A young man who became an instant hero after rescuing two Hoedspruit  policemen from their crashed vehicle and prevented two dangerous  criminals from escaping recently, has been arrested for motor vehicle theft and  house breaking.
Sipho Mogale Sebela (23) of Burgersdorp last month freed two injured  policemen, who were trapped in a police van which collided head-on  with a speeding sedan on the Tzaneen-Lydenburg road.
He handcuffed two men who were in the police vehicle, being transported to Maake and Ritavi magistrate's court and kept the service  firearms of the officers safe until  police back-up arrived.
Sebela was rewarded a   cheque of R4 000 by the Tzaneen  Cluster police commander, Maj Gen Maggy Mathebula for his bravery.
He was later arrested, after police in Maake realised  he was one  of the people on a list of suspects wanted for various crimes.
Sebela appeared in the Naphuno magistrate's court on two charges of  house breaking and  theft of a motor vehicle, and was remanded in police  custody until September 3, pending further investigations.
Tzaneen cluster police spokesperson, Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe  confirmed Sebela's arrest and said Sebela was believed to have been  using different names for the crimes.





Crimes of the South African Police Service

Policeman nabbed for conspiracy

The Hawks in Limpopo on Sunday arrested a 31-year-old police constable on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
12 July 2012 | Nelie Erasmus

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POLOKWANE -  The Hawks in Limpopo on Sunday  arrested a 31-year-old police constable   on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
This follows a Hawks investigation into a cash-in-transit robbery at the Mokone Shell garage on May 8, during which four suspects got away with three boxes of cash being guarded by Coin Security guards. 
The suspects took off in a BMW which was later found abandoned 2km from the incident. The suspects are still on the run. Investigations led the Hawks to Gauteng after one of the perpetrators  was identified and it was alleged that a Gauteng  constable aided the perpetrators to escape.
The constable was arrested in Tembisa and was disarmed.  He  appeared in the Polokwane magistrate’s  court on Monday.  Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi could not confirm the  outcome  at the time of going to press. Police investigations  continue.









Crimes of the South African Police Service

Defiant metro cops take to streets
May 4 2013 at 02:23pm


By LALI VAN ZUYDAM and Sapa


INLSA
Tshwane Metro Police are refusing to accept the new shift system rolled out on May 01. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi
Pretoria - Members of the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) embarked on an illegal march through the city centre on Friday on the third day of their protest against the newly-implemented shift system.
Approximately 200 metro police officers took to the streets, claiming they “will not go back to work until they are heard”.
The protesters, some in metro police uniforms complete with badges and guns, others in union attire, and yet more in casual clothing, marched through the streets of the CBD, obstructing vehicles and blocking intersections as they went.
The protesters’ unhappiness stems from the introduction of a new shift system on Workers’ Day, which was Wednesday.
The previous shift system, which lapsed in 2011 but was extended to accommodate negotiations with unions, allowed for two 12-hour shifts per day, with shift changes at 6.15am and 6.15pm.
Employees were required to work four 12-hour shifts in four days, after which they were given four days off.
The TMPD suggested the new schedule which has three shifts: 5am to 1pm, 1pm to 9pm, and a night shift from 9pm to 5am.
A split shift was also suggested between 12pm and 8pm to ensure officers were available during peak hours.
With the new shift system, employees work the same number of hours but they are required to work six shifts instead of four.
On Thursday, the TMPD sent a letter to all members, ensuring them their night shift allowances would not be affected by the change in shifts, after there was a misconception that they would be disadvantaged.
“We are still not happy,” one protester said, adding the chief of metro police, Steven Ngobeni, refused to address their grievances about the new system.
The protesters marched from the TMPD head office, on the corner of WF Nkomo (Church) and Es’kia Mphahlele streets (DF Malan), chanting “voetsek” and blocking traffic. They made their way down Madiba Street (Vermeulen), past Isivuno House opposite the Munitoria building, up Johannes Ramokhoase Street (Proes) and back to the metro police head office.
They gathered at all the large intersections and sat on the road to prevent traffic flow.
When vehicles attempted to pass the protesters, they crowded around the cars so they could not move.
Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, metro police spokesman, said they had a 70 percent turn-out for work yesterday, which was an improvement on Thursday’s 60 percent.
“We hope it will get better as the days pass, but we urge them to stop what they are doing and come back to work and attend to the needs of the public,” Mahamba said.
Mahamba said disciplinary procedures would follow when the employees returned to work.
“The TMPD does not accept the illegal strike action of the workers. If they are unhappy they have legal avenues available to them,” he said.
Mahamba again said their doors were open to the unhappy members, but was firm in saying the Ngobeni would not address an illegal strike.
“The manner with which they are dealing with the issue will not solve anything,” Mahamba said.
l Meanwhile, the Johannesburg Labour Court has granted the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department an order prohibiting its workers from going on an illegal strike, the municipality said yesterday.
Spokesman for the metro police, Console Tleane, said the interdict was against the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), and the members of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police who had been on an unprotected strike since the beginning of the month.
The officers embarked on an unprotected strike complaining about a new shift system which came into effect on May 1.
Acting Judge Connie Prinsloo ruled that the strike by the members must be interdicted.
The metro police management had argued in their papers that the strike was illegal as there was no stipulated 48-hour notice served on the municipality of the intention to embark on a strike.
“The strike was also illegal because metro police work is classified as an essential service,” said Tleane.
The court order was issued with immediate effect.
“The court also ruled that the parties must return on May 8, 2013, on which date the unions will be given an opportunity to provide arguments on why the interim order should not be made final,” Tleane said.
Mdeanwhile, metro police chief Steven Ngobeni issued an ultimatum to all members on strike to return to work by Monday.
Pretoria News Weekend

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Crimes of the South African Police Service



 ‘Crime increased after station was opened’

A community leader in Botlokwa, Madikana Vusi ...show more Ramusi says something must be done to remove a gang of criminals from the street, after the area has been hit by a wave of crime recently. ...show less
RESIDENTS in the Botlokwa area are concerned about a crime wave which has hit the area recently.
05 February 2013 | Moyahabo Mabeba

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RESIDENTS in the Botlokwa area are concerned about a crime wave which has hit the area recently.
Some residents told CV they were considering taking the law into their own hands, as the police did not appear to be catching the criminals.
An elderly woman from Matseke village, who was robbed twice in two weeks said they believed a gang was used a spray, which they sprayed through windows and keyholes, which put their victims into a deep sleep.
"This was a peaceful area before the R23 million police station was built," she said.
The spokesperson for the police, Sgt Thilivhani Mavhungu confirmed that a number of  robbery, housebreaking and theft cases had been reported at the  police station, and assured residents the police were investigating the cases.
 Mavhungu said the police station had had cases where suspected criminals were beaten up before they were turned over to the police.
Madikana Vusi Ramusi, a community leader said his house had been broken into a number of times.
  "These criminals are holding us  ransom in our own homes. The situation is getting out of hand," he said.
The spokesperson for the Machaka traditional council, Morubula Sekwaila  called for an immediate safety action plan to be drawn up to rid the area of criminals.





Crimes of the South African Police Service


2 for 82 in cells of fate

The recent escape of five detainees from the Polokwane police cells has opened a new can of worms for the police.
17 January 2013 | Riana Joubert

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POLOKWANE - The recent escape of five detainees from the Polokwane police cells has opened a new can of worms for the police.

A source within the police, whose identity is withheld to protect him, told Review that prior to the escape there had been numerous reports by police members working in the cells about problems with some of the cell door locks.

 "The building itself is not up to standard anymore and this is no secret to the authorities," the source said.

According to the source, the place in the roof from where the escape was made was the exact place where another escape took place in the past, indicating that there had been no repairs, or shoddy repairs, since the first escape.

There are also inside allegations that only two police officers are on duty….. • The five escapees were detained for armed robbery, robbery,  rape, housebreaking and theft……..Read more




Crimes of the South African Police Service



Top Limpopo cop arrested

He was arrested yesterday for possession of and dealing in ammunition.
28 November 2012 | Joline Nash

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A Limpopo police station commissioner was arrested yesterday for possession of and dealing in ammunition.

More than 500 rounds of ammunition were found at his house.

The police earlier arrested a couple believed to be his accomplices. They had 10 500 rounds of ammunition.

 The station commissioner allegedly sold the  ammunition to criminals. They  will appear in the Pretoria north magistrate's court today.



Crimes of the South African Police Service

Police officer up for aiding after man escapes


WO Elias Beetha was arrested on Monday for aiding ...show more a prisoner to escape. Photo: Supplied ...show less
Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit arrested a police warrant officer, Elias Beetha (49) on Monday night for helping a man to escape from lawful custody
30 August 2012 | Nelie Erasmus

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The police’s Anti-Corruption Unit  arrested a police warrant officer, Elias Beetha (49) on Monday night for helping a man to escape from lawful custody, and defeating the ends of justice.
Beetha appeared in the Polokwane magistrate’s court on Tuesday on charges of defeating the ends of justice.
Beetha, from   Westenburg police station,  allegedly booked the man out from the police holding cells for an investigation on  July 28.
The man was facing charges of robbery, theft out of a  motor vehicle and  escaping from lawful custody.
Beetha reported that the man had escaped while under his guard, and that his attempts to re-arrest him had failed.
The escapee was re-arrested a week later and was  charged with an additional charge of escaping from lawful custody.
Beetha was arrested by the Hawks on Monday night and was detained at the Seshego police station.
The police’s provincial spokesperson, Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said internal disciplinary processes  had started against Beetha and he had been issued with a notice of intention to suspend him.
Mulaudzi said the police were "perplexed" when the magistrate released Beetha on a warning.
The case was postponed until 19 September.







Crimes of the South African Police Service


Police officials take confiscated goods

A sting operation by the police in Limpopo led to the arrest of 12 people attached to the Northam police station.

Twelve people were arrested for possession of ...show more confiscated groceries. Photo: Supplied ...show less

02 August 2012 | Nelie Erasmus



POLOKWANE -  A sting operation by the police in Limpopo led to the  arrest of 12 people attached to the Northam police station.
 The 12  included  five police officials, three data typists, three  cleaners and a police reservist.
 They appeared in the Northam magistrate’s court on charges of  theft  and defeating the ends of justice on Monday.
 It is alleged they stole groceries confiscated from illegal traders  and shared the groceries to the value of R10 000  among themselves.
 The stolen groceries were recovered from the suspects.
 The incident followed  a sting operation launched by police in conjunction with the department of economic development, environment  and tourism and the Limpopo Liquor Board against unregistered   businesses and illegal shebeens.
 "The crime trend in the province has proved that most contact crimes  reported occur when people are from or at these businesses," said the police’s  provincial spokesperson, Hangwani Mulaudzi.
 "Many cases of business robberies reported have pointed to spaza  shops, whose legitimacy cannot be traced. Illegal foreigners as well have unregistered businesses all over the province and have become  soft targets for criminals," he said.  Police will confiscate groceries found in unregistered spaza shops  and, working  with the Liquor Board, they will seize all liquor found  at unregistered outlets or those  not complying with the requirements  of the Liquor Act. Of grave concern to the police is that  illegal immigrants running  illegal businesses tend to keep substantial amounts of money at their  premises as they do not have access to banking facilities, making  them vulnerable targets for opportunistic criminals.
 To date 130 illegal spazas or tuck shops have been closed all over the  province. A total of 60 illegal liquor outlets have been forced to  close shop.
Fifty-seven  fridges have been seized, 106 illegal foreigners arrested  and a total of 484 suspects are behind bars for various cases ranging from rape to common assault, with illegal shebeens and unregistered  spaza shops being the prime hot spots.
 The suspects will appear in various courts across the province soon.
"We are not going to compromise the safety of our residents by  accommodating the minority who live on the wrong side of the law. All  businesses must be registered and obey the set regulations.  "Failing  to do so, consider your days of operation numbered," said   the   provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe.
 He added that illegal  shebeens sell liquor to under-age young people and it influenced the rate of rapes and robberies which the province had experienced of late.
 The provincial commissioner has strongly condemned the incident at the  police station as it tarnishes the good name of the police. He  reiterated that the officials will be served with notices of intention  to suspend them from duty pending internal disciplinary processes and  pointed out that the police cannot afford to have officials in its  fold who commit criminal acts instead of upholding the laws of the  country aimed at fighting crime.
 The case   was postponed to August 15   pending further   investigations. They were released on a warning.










Crimes of the South African Police Service

Man claims police bullied him
Daniël Pheme claims he was bullied by police officers and unlawfully arrested at the city’s game reserve on Tuesday afternoon.


Daniël Pheme was arrested at the Polokwane Game ...show more Reserve on Tuesday as he was picking up his belongings from a party held over the weekend. He said he was bullied by police officers. ...show less
07 June 2012 | Maretha Swanepoel

POLOKWANE - Daniël Pheme claims he was bullied by police officers and unlawfully arrested at the city’s game reserve on Tuesday afternoon.
 Pheme, who hosted a private party at the reserve’s facilities over the weekend, returned this week to pick up his belongings and equipment.
 "On Monday afternoon, they indicated  that they were closing, so I could only take one load," Pheme says.
On Tuesday, he returned for the rest of his goods when he found the chalets locked.
"They told me they wanted to evaluate the damage to the chalets."
Pheme admits damage was caused, but adds the reserve had kept his deposits as  payment for the damages,  "I have the receipts to prove this is the case".
Game reserve staff  closed the gates,  preventing him from leaving.
 "I said I wanted to go to the police station to report a case as they refused to return my belongings."
He believes a phone call was made by game reserve staff, as traffic department officials arrived to tow away his vehicle.
"The lady at reception said there were  some pots   missing,  but the security guards  searched my bakkie and found nothing."
His vehicle was in the meantime towed away.
"As I was taking photos of the incident, a police officer told me to stop doing so, and started beating me."
  "He  tackled me for my phone, which fell on the ground.  One of the security guards picked it up and gave it to the police, who then deleted the photos."
He was handcuffed and taken to the police station, he says, where he heard for the first time that he was charged with  malicious damage to property and crimen injuria.
Pheme claims the police assisted him in retrieving his vehicle, "after  the traffic department told me I had to pay R500".
 The police’s WO Lesedi Ramashaba was not aware of the incident,  but said  Pheme has the right to report the matter.
Pheme will appear in the district court on July 17.





Crimes of the South African Police Service

Top cop: 'punish the criminals before police comes'

Lt Gen Simon Mpembe (provincial police ...show more commissioner) encourages students of the University of Limpopo to punish criminals before the police arrive, during a campaign on Thursday. ...show less
"Mob justice is allowed in the absence of police officers. When you arrest a criminal, do whatever it takes while you are waiting for the police." These were the words of provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe, when he spoke at a crime awareness campaign held at the University of Limpopo on Thursday.
30 May 2012 | Peter Mashishi

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MANKWENG - "Mob justice is allowed in the absence of  police officers. When you arrest a criminal, do whatever it takes while you are  waiting for the police."

  These were the words of  provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Simon Mpembe, when he spoke at a crime awareness campaign held at the University of Limpopo on Thursday.

The campaign was held in association with the police, and Mpembe was one of the guest speakers. The campaign aimed  to motivate students to assist in fighting crime.  Mpembe said it is not only the police’s duty   to protect the students.

"You as students must help them by  protecting yourselves. Move   in large groups. In that way, it will be   difficult for criminals to victimise you."
He said  he does not see the necessity of rushing criminals to hospital after they have been beaten by a mob.  He encouraged the students to punish the criminals in the absence of the police.

"Are nyešeng tsotsi tša Mankweng," he said.

The theme of the campaign was Academics in a War Against Crime. Kgalema Mohuba, the spokesperson of the university said it is  disturbing to hear about a   student who has killed someone or was  killed themselves.

   The SRC president, Simon Rammutla   said campus security should work with the police  and the students should also get involved.










Crimes of the South African Police Service


Opinions
Letter: Corrupt cops 1

Dear Editor, While driving my Smart Fortwo around Johannesburg, I had a run-in with the SAPS.
11 May 2012

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Current rating: 5 from 1 votes.
I rounded a bend at the Turffontein Fire Station and the SAPS pulled me over because they simply had to have a look at this unusual little car. Asking for my licence was just an excuse. I had left my licence in my bike jacket so this was just up their ally.

“What are we going to do with you?” asked the officer. “Well I really don’t know,” I said, and waited for his next move. He went around to the other side of his van, came back and said: “No man, you are playing with my mind, I don’t know what to do with you.” Just then, his colleague, a white lady officer, walked up behind him and he asked her what the fine is for not carrying a driver’s licence. She said there was no fine and that I’d have to spend the night in jail.

I told them I’d have to phone my lawyer and I started dialling a fictitious number. They let me go and told me never to forget my driver’s licence again. It seems these people work together like a well-oiled machine to try and extort bribes from an unsuspecting public.

Having witnessed the efficiency of the British police in London, I can only wonder how many decades it will take for us to catch up. Do I have respect for the SAPS or JMPD? I think not.