South
African Police Service Crimes
Crimes of the South African Police Service
www.southafricanpoliceservicecrimes.blogspot.com
Monday, September 1, 2014
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Policewoman filmed assaulting man
2014-01-16 12:36
(YouTube)
Pretoria - A
police constable faces possible suspension after a video clip of her allegedly
kicking and poking a suspect with an iron rod was posted on YouTube.
Beeld reported
on Thursday that the constable, based at Hercules police office in Pretoria,
was seen interrogating two suspect in police cells, asking about a firearm that
had been reported missing. She is then seen kicking one of them twice. A second
police officer watches the interrogation.
Another suspect in the police cells made a
recording of the incident and posted it on YouTube.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant
Colonel Katlego Mogale told Beeld that the footage had been studied, and it
shows the constable is clearly guilty of misconduct in terms of the police’s
disciplinary regulations.
According to Mogale, the suspects had been
arrested in connection with an armed robbery. They will appear in court again
on 26 January.
The policewoman was advised not to comment.
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Foreigner found dead after police raid
2014-08-05 11:10
Mahikeng - A Nigerian man was found dead in
Rustenburg after a drugs raid on a house, North West police said on Tuesday.
The alleged assault happened on Monday, said
Brigadier Thulani Ngubane.
"It is alleged that police went to the
victim's house searching for drugs... and allegations are that the man was
assaulted by police after the search," he said.
Later, officers from the Rustenburg police
station were responding to a call about public violence when they found the
body outside a house.
"The deceased was found lying on the
ground with white foam coming out of his mouth with no physical injuries on his
body," said Ngubane.
A case of murder was opened and referred to
the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for investigation.
"At this stage the information is
sketchy to confirm if indeed the deceased was assaulted or murdered by
police," said Ngubane.
"The outcome of the investigation will
confirm or rescind this allegation. The police will co-operate and allow Ipid
to do their investigation."
The cause of the 37-year-old's death was not
yet known.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
North West cops appear for robbery, extortion
2014-01-08 19:23
Johannesburg - Four police officers accused
of robbery and extortion appeared in the Tlhabane Magistrate's Court on
Wednesday, said North West police.
The matter was postponed to 9 January for a
bail application, police spokesperson Thulani Ngubane said.
Warrant Officer David Setshedi, 52, and
constables Joseph Moremi, 31, Gladness Mogotsi, 35, and Annah Mosweu, 33, were
arrested on 3 January.
They allegedly robbed an Ethiopian man of an
undisclosed amount of cash at Karlin Park, in Zinnaville, on 7 December.
The man opened a case against them. When the
officers realised this, they asked another Ethiopian man to persuade him to
withdraw the case and they would refund his money.
They allegedly gave him R10 000, instructed
him to leave Rustenburg and told him not to return to the police station,
Ngubane said.
In a similar case, two police officers
appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Monday.
The case was postponed to 9 January after the
prosecutor asked that he be recused from the matter, citing a conflict of
interest.
Sergeant Faith Mekgoe, 40, and Constable
Jacob Monnapula, 32, allegedly robbed an Ethiopian of cigarettes worth R100 000
and an undisclosed amount of cash.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
2 cops held for corruption in Durban
2013-02-14 13:33
Durban - Two Durban police officers have been
arrested for allegedly demanding money to make a case disappear, the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) said on Thursday.
The two warrant officers, based at Durban's
Bayview police station in Chatsworth, were arrested on Wednesday night, IPID
spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.
They allegedly demanded R3 500 from a man
facing charges of contravening a court order, assault, and pointing a firearm,
in exchange for making the case disappear.
The man lodged a complaint with the IPID. The
two officers, one of whom had 30 years service in the police, were expected to
appear in the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court on Thursday on corruption charges.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Cops in court for extortion, assault
2014-01-17 08:39
Durban - Four police constables accused of
corruption, assault, intimidation and extortion appeared in the Durban
Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Stanley Shabalala, 34, Mesuli Sibeko, 26,
Lungani Thabede, 30, and Mazwi Alli Ngubo, 29, were released on R3 000 bail
each, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate said.
Spokesperson Moses Dlamini said a man who
advertised his car for sale received a call in February last year from a
prospective buyer. The caller told him he was waiting for him at the Workshop
shopping centre in Durban.
When the man arrived at the shopping centre,
police officers arrested him, took him to the Berea police station and asked
him about a person they claimed was supplying him with drugs. The officers
allegedly suffocated and assaulted him and demanded money in return for his
release. The man's girlfriend paid them R3 000.
The four men were expected to appear in court
again on 7 February.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
‘Police throttled him until
he collapsed’
August 1 2014 at 07:44am
By KUTLWANO OLIFANT
By KUTLWANO OLIFANT
Johannesburg -
A Joburg man who was trying to capture cellphone images of a friend allegedly
being assaulted by the police ended up dead moments later – allegedly at the
hands of officers.
According to
the friend’s daughter, Lumkiswa Mangxama – who witnessed the incident – Richard
Chirwa was choked by a police officer who had arrested him for drinking and
driving.
The friend,
Thulani Ntuli, was travelling with Mangxama and his son Jabulani when they were
stopped by police in Brackenhurst, Ekurhuleni, last Saturday afternoon.
On Thursday,
Mangxama said that police saw two bottles of beer in the car and arrested
Chirwa and her father on the scene.
“They asked us
if we were drunk, but no one responded. I think that got them angry,” said
Mangxama, adding that the police assaulted her father before shoving him into
the back of their van.
The 29-year-old
woman said she and her brother were then asked to join her father in the van.
Chirwa was
driven by a policeman in his car to the Brackenhurst police station.
“When we got to
the police station, my brother and I were taken to different entrances to the
station. We then met my father’s friend (Chirwa) a few minutes later (inside
the police station).
“My dad was lying
on the floor in front of other police officers. He was bleeding on his face and
not moving at the time,” Mangxama said.
She said
Chirwa’s crime was to capture pictures of her father, who was bleeding from
being hit with a firearm.
They asked
Chirwa to stop taking the pictures and they took his cellphone.
Chirwa was then
told by a police officer that they were going to draw his blood to check for
alcohol, but he refused, saying he would only do so if they returned his
cellphone.
“The arresting
officer pepper-sprayed my father’s friend in the face and then throttled him
until he collapsed.
“They tried to
resuscitate him, but he looked like he was already dead,” Mangxama said.
On Thursday
night, Chirwa’s family said they wanted answers and that the officers should be
arrested.
“We are
suspicious because police are telling us a different story from the
eyewitnesses,” said Chirwa’s stepdaughter, Veliswa Mazibuko.
The police
couldn’t say how Chirwa had died, she added.
“The death
certificate states that his cause of death is still being investigated.
However, a police officer from the station told us that the cause was natural
death,” Mazibuko said.
“They told us
my father collapsed when a standby nurse tried to draw his blood. They told us
that he was being arrested for drinking and driving.
“We seriously
don’t know who to trust because the police are lying to us. Everything they say
doesn’t make sense at all,” she said.
Mazibuko
claimed that the nurse failed to answer them when asked why she did not ask her
father about his medical condition. She said Chirwa was diabetic, but the
police said he was suffering from high-blood pressure.
The family had
asked for a meeting with the Brackenhurst police to explain the incident. But
they said they were turned down by the station commander.
“All we wanted
was to meet with the arresting officers to explain, but she refused,” Mazibuko
said.
Police
spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini referred The Star to the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), who were investigating the
matter.
However, Ipid
spokesman Moses Dlamini’s phone went unanswered and he did not respond to SMSes
sent.
kutlwano.olifant@inl.co.za
The Star
Crimes of the South African Police Service
‘Cops assaulted us in front
of our kids’
September 1 2014 at 08:45am
By Angelique Serrao
By Angelique Serrao
SUPPLIED
A senior
Ekurhuleni metro police officer shortly before he allegedly shoved and punched
motorist Malcolm Brown.
Johannesburg - A couple have laid a charge of assault against two
Ekurhuleni metro policemen who allegedly shoved and punched them while their
two small children looked on.
They tried pursuing
the metro police vehicle, but could not keep up as the officers were driving at
break-neck speed.
Malcolm Brown
said he was driving towards Modderfontein Road in Edenglen on Sunday morning.
He stopped at a red traffic light and in the distance saw an officer in the
road. When he drove on, the metro police officer flagged him down.
Brown said he
assumed it was a routine check and he rolled down his window.
“He raised his
voice, shouting at me and asking why I had driven through a red robot,” Brown
said.
He denied the
allegation and was told he was getting a fine.
Brown said he
got out of his car and followed the officer to give him his details as he had
been ordered to do.
Brown said that
as the officer was writing out his fine, he asked him how he could see the
traffic light from such a distance.
“He responded,
‘I am the law’. One of his colleagues then got out of the back of their vehicle
and approached me,” Brown said.
The second
officer told Brown he was the supervisor in charge.
“A third officer
then came over and starting shouting at me, saying ‘you are wrong’. I could see
that I was not going to win in this situation and requested their names as none
of them had name tags. I was then told to ‘f*** off’,” Brown said.
Brown then took
out his cellphone and shot a video of the car’s registration number. He then
approached the senior officer pointing his cellphone at him to capture his
face.
The video,
which has been posted on community crime-fighting organisation eBlockwatch’s
Facebook page, then shows the officer attacking Brown before it ends.
“As soon as I
started to film, he grabbed my arms and wrestled me to the ground. His
colleague then also grabbed me, and the officer in the film punched me in the
chest,” Brown said.
Ekurhuleni
metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilfred Kgasago said that if
everything Brown says is true, then there is a problem with the conduct of the
officers. He urged Brown to come to them with the video footage and information
on what happened so that an internal case could be opened and taken to their
integrity commission.
“People fear
they will be victimised by officers if they come forward with information, but
that is not the case. It is only through community involvement we can root out
problems,” Kgasago said.
Brown
said his wife saw what was happening, got out of the car and ran to him during
the attack. She was also pushed by the police officer and was also allegedly
punched in the chest.
His two
children, aged 3 and 5, watched the altercation from the backseat of their car.
“I could hear
my kids screaming, so I grabbed my wife and ran to our car, locked the doors
and phoned the police,” Brown said.
He said his
children were hysterical and everyone was traumatised by what had happened. He
said the metro police officers then drove off with their blue lights on.
Brown said he
followed them for about eight minutes, but they were driving in circles and he
could not keep up with the speed they were travelling at. He estimated they
were driving 120km in a 60km zone.
The couple
opened an assault charge at Edenvale police station.
eBlockwatch
founder André Snyman, who encourages the public to record policemen in the
wrong, said it was a case of a member of the public chasing the police.
angelique.serrao@inl.co.za
The Star
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Chookie for choc cops?
FIVE policemen and a former
policeman have appeared in the Kimberley court in connection with the theft of
alcohol and chocolates from two trucks that crashed in the Northern Cape
earlier this month.
On July 12 a truck overturned on the N12 near Belmont and alcohol worth
about R620000 was stolen from the wreckage, said Captain Cherelle Ehlers.
On July 17, a truck overturned on the N8 and chocolates valued at about
R290000 were stolen.
The Hawks and Kagisho detectives made the arrests.
Crimes of the South African Police Service
'Cops assaulted me and
won't let me lay a charge'
A LIMPOPO man,who was
allegedly assaulted by three police officers, has accused them of refusing to
let him lay criminal charges.
Piet Mashiane, 30, of Moletji, GaSechaba, was allegedly assaulted on
Akganang Road three months ago after the police accused him of failing to stop
at an intersection. He said when they stopped him they dragged him out, beat
him to a pulp. When he started bleeding they trained their guns on him.
Mashiane said the cops refused to take him to hospital. An ambulance
took him to hospital eight hours later.
"The traffic fine they gave me was cancelled, I don't know
why."
After receiving medical attention Mashiane said he went back to the
police station to open a case, but the officers on duty threatened to lock him
up, saying they could not open a case against fellow officers.
Crimes of the South African Police Service
THE rot at the Hillbrow
Police Station could cost the police thousands of rands in legal fees and civil
claims.
The Johannesburg high court on Thursday awarded Berea businessman Herbet
Mandlbaur R150000 for false arrest related to continuous police harassment
linked to Hillbrow station's acting commissioner Koos van Rhyn.
Last week Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula and provincial police
confirmed that Van Rhyn was being investigated for alleged links to the
criminal underworld.
This after he was fingered as the person who organised the farewell
party of retired Gauteng police commissioner Perumal Naidoo at the house of
alleged Mafia boss Alan Kukard 10 days ago.
According to the Saturday Star Van Rhyn organised the party.
On October 13 last year Mandlbaur was detained for four hours for
"criminal damage and trespassing" on his own property. Mandlbaur, who
owns Sober Lodge, German Hotel, Dun Robin Residential Lodge and Jabula Ebusuku
in Berea, said he had been harassed personally by Van Rhyn since last year.
"I was arrested when I refused to meet Van Rhyn at Crestview flats
where he accused me of trespassing and damaging property. I went to the police
station and was detained on charges relating to my own property," he said
yesterday.
He currently has two pending civil claims for R150000 malicious damage
to property and R200000 worth of "illegally" confiscated liquor.
"None of the cases of my liquor being confiscated for trading
illegally have been to court because there is no case. But I have never had any
of my stock returned," he said.
"There were about 95 arrests of bar staff and customers during last
year. None of these arrests has led to evidence being put before Hillbrow
magistrate's court.
"I have high court orders confirming that I have a legal liquor
licence and the police should stop harassing me," he said yesterday.
Sowetan has case numbers, court orders, a deed of sale and photographs
related to Mandlbaur's claims.
Now three well-placed sources have told Sowetan that Corporate Asset
Management Security, owned by Kukard, is a subsidiary of NDA, a company owned
by Van Rhyn.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Govindsamy Mariemutoo, was
asked if there was no conflict of interest in the province investigating Van
Rhyn.
"We have internal processes but if people are not satisfied they
can go to the Independent Complaints Directorate," Mariemutoo said.
When contacted for comment Hillbrow police spokesperson Kriban Naidoo
said: "I am off duty today and so is Van Rhyn. So I do not know how you
can contact him."
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Witnesses: Drunk cop crashes into shack
2014-07-21 11:38
Galeshewe - A Northern Cape police officer is
being investigated for reckless and negligent driving after allegedly driving
his police van into a shack an almost killing a bedridden man at the weekend.
The officer was on duty and, according to witnesses, drunk after visiting a shebeen, reported the
He crashed a police van into the shack of Joseph Mothwaring, who is recovering from an operation.
According to witnesses, the officer had three civilian passengers with him and told them to leave the scene as he would sort it out.
The witnesses insist that the officer was visibly drunk and that he was quickly taken off the scene without being breathalysed.
Police claim that the officer swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting a person who was in the road.
The officer was on duty and, according to witnesses, drunk after visiting a shebeen, reported the
He crashed a police van into the shack of Joseph Mothwaring, who is recovering from an operation.
According to witnesses, the officer had three civilian passengers with him and told them to leave the scene as he would sort it out.
The witnesses insist that the officer was visibly drunk and that he was quickly taken off the scene without being breathalysed.
Police claim that the officer swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting a person who was in the road.
- News24
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Johann Burmeister here with his wife Denise
and Advocate Bruwer after winning his case
On July 24 2014, Johann Burmeister
defeated the controversial case of
theft (of a laptop) that was brought against him by
the Knysna SAPS.
It’s more than just a win.
It’s an insight into the failure of
police procedure and the
abuse of power that is suppose
to protect the public. It’s confirmation of conspiracy.
On being found not guilty by Magistrate Derek Torlage, tears of relief
and joy beautified the faces of both Johann and Denise, his wife who won the
hearts of the public as she fought in newspapers and online to clear her
husband’s name. There were tears of anger too.
Day one of the trial was blogged in 3 parts starting here. This is what happened on days two and
three…
The situation smelt from the beginning because the facts available did not add up.
Once all the facts were available, in court, they didn’t add up either.
The 3 days of court drama carried every human emotion, from on-the-edge-of-your-seat
expectation and anger (at witnesses trapping themselves in lies) to frustrating
boredom as the the same witnesses seemed to mutter inanities such as “I dunno”
(when they should know) a thousand times. Most importantly, there was overwhelming
happiness and justifiable self-righteousness at the end.
Day 2 of the trial had Warrant Officer Christopher Appels in the dock
first. His shift had followed after Sergeant Maurice Grootboom’s and thus he’d
signed for the evidence and property. Like Grootboom, he also claimed that
Burmeister had the laptop. He then signed everything over to SAP13 clerk,
Sergeant Carmen Coetzee who would later claim the same. So did her superior
(and also SAP13 clerk) Warrant Officer Abraham Coetzer. Their superior, Captain
Patrick Gogwana, followed suite.
Advocate Eduard Bruwer expressed the view of all in the public
gallery when he stated that “something smelt rotten” about this case. He
emphasised it later with a quote from Hamlet, “Something is rotten in the state
of Denmark.”
Who do the public turn to when the police are
committing the crime?
The State’s ‘witnesses’ felt rehearsed; badly rehearsed but rehearsed nonetheless. They
all, with the exceptional exception of Captain Michelle Lesch, stated that
ex-Warrant Officer Johann Burmeister was trustworthy and honest… and used that
as their defense why they failed to follow their “standing orders”, the rules
and regulations governing their conduct and action.
At the heart of the matter was the definition of “outstanding”, a term
used on the register to denote property that had not being disposed of e.g.
destroyed or returned to its owner. Advocate Bruwer proved unequivocally that
it meant not disposed of but still in the possession of the police. At one
point he even stated that “it was too coincidental that Appel’s interpretation
matched Coetzee’s”. Captain Lesch, their superior, in detail, confirmed that
Bruwer understanding of the word was correct.
The biggest condemnation of five of the witnesses is that they had, at
some point, whether in receipt or audit, signed that the laptop was in their
possession. Gaining that admittance was a difficult task for Advocate Bruwer
who was forced to nauseatingly repeat questions so many times that it’s
unlikely onlookers will ever forget them. The witnesses dug themselves a hole
that they should be prosecuted for.
It was a liar’s parade that had onlookers comparing tell-tale signs they
noticed such as facial ticks, hand wrenching, looking away and, especially, the
constant lowering of voices to inaudibility as their sentences trapped them.
Magistrate Derek Torlage’s voice may have sounded emotionless but his
words weren’t. In his judgement he stated that all of the witnesses, with the
exception of Captain Lesch, had admitted to either fraud or perjury.
How much has this frivolous case of falsehoods cost the taxpayer? Beyond
the case itself, how man police hours were abused and wasted the past 8 months.
Arguably, there was a conspiracy i.e. a bunch of cops broke the rules
and supported a clearly false case against Johann Burmeister whilst the
evidence pointed at others.
It’s uncomfortable add-on facts that senior police from the George
Cluster, under which Knysna falls, were involved to some degree, whether by
action or association i.e.
1. Colonel Marnewick is the boyfriend of Sergeant Carmen Coetzee, the
officer who was far more qualified to be a suspect
2. Colonel Jeffrey Matiwani ordered the case be opened against
Burmeister
3. Colonel Derek Daniels, Head of CIF (Criminal Intelligence) appeared
in court, allegedly illegally recording proceedings and strangely interacting
with Coetzee in the corridor outside. Witnesses said that he seemed like he was
coaching her. She stated that he was only a colleague and that he had asked to
hug her and she’d given permission. Does that sound like a colleague?
Sergeant Sergeant Coetzee seemed to be getting special treatment. She
was left as the last witness and, even then, Prosecuto Thibedi oddly stated,
without reason, that it wouldn’t be fair if the case continued as there wasn’t
enough time left. Essentially, he was asking for another court date which would
take months to get, this despite the fact that she was coming from out of town
and had sat on a hard bench outside the court room for 3 days. Despite the fact
that it was only 11.33am. Bruwer immediately counter-attacked by promising
Magistrate Torlage that he would finish with Coetzee the same day. He kept his
word despite Thibedi, for the first time, questioning her slowly and at length.
This was noticeable as he’d likely spent less than 5 minutes on each witness so
far. Even the magistrate had spoken longer. Thibedi was out of his trench hole
and Bruwer was a bomber. It must be asked why Thibedi gave this case sufficient
merit for it to be prosecuted when it was obvious it had none? Was he ordered
to?
After Sergeant Coetzee had finished testifying, admitting to two lies
within the first 5 minutes, even Thibedi was forced to admit to Magistrate
Torlage that he had no case.
The most blatant missing witness was Colonel Matiwane who, in his own
testimony in the internal disciplinary hearing, had stated that he’d made the
decision to open the case against Burmeister. Although he should have been a
star witness for Prosecutor Thibedi, he wasn’t called. Bruwer never called any
witnesses as he believed, as was proven, that he’d won the case without them.
The biggest impact, beyond Burmeister’s involvement, is that rules and
procedure (i.e. the standing orders) are not valued or adhered to in the Knysna
SAPS station, from the lowest to the highest rank. The registeries are not treated as gospel
and events are not being recorded in the Occurrence Book (OB) which is supposed
to be the police station’s ultimate diary. Particularly, in this case, Sergeant
Carmen Coetzee and her superior, Warrant Officer Abrahams Coetzer, must be
investigated. Not only is the missing laptop in question but what happened with
a R16 000 gold armband too. These disturbing situations will give weight to
rumours that cops are selling stolen goods in Knysna.
This case is going to keep tongues wagging and reinforce the public’s
distrust in the police. The hope of many is that this will force an investigation
into the running of the station, with subsequent punishment and leadership
replacement returning justice to the streets of Knysna. However, there are even
more who believe that this telling event will be whitewashed.
Crimes of the South African Police Service
900+ cops charged for helping with escapes
2014-07-25 14:38
Cape Town - More than 900
police officers were charged over the past three years for helping with an
escape, but only 30 of them have been fired, according to
Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.
In a written reply to a Parliamentary question, tabled on Friday, he said 907 police officers had been charged with "aiding an escapee" during the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years.
Of the 907 charged, 288 were found not guilty of the offence, while 516 were found guilty. A total of 103 of the cases were withdrawn.
Of the 516 found guilty, only 30 were dismissed.
Figures included 231 fined, or counselled (10), or issued a verbal warning (14), or a written warning (93), or a final written warning (70), or suspended without pay (six), and/or received a suspended sanction or suspended dismissal (63 and 111 respectively).
In a written reply to a Parliamentary question, tabled on Friday, he said 907 police officers had been charged with "aiding an escapee" during the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years.
Of the 907 charged, 288 were found not guilty of the offence, while 516 were found guilty. A total of 103 of the cases were withdrawn.
Of the 516 found guilty, only 30 were dismissed.
Figures included 231 fined, or counselled (10), or issued a verbal warning (14), or a written warning (93), or a final written warning (70), or suspended without pay (six), and/or received a suspended sanction or suspended dismissal (63 and 111 respectively).
- SAPA
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/900-cops-charges-for-helping-with-escapes-20140725
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Cops in court for soliciting a bribe
2014-07-28 20:36
Johannesburg - Two police constables appeared
in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly soliciting a bribe,
Mpumalanga police said.
"It is alleged that the two members
solicited a bribe from an apparent drunk driver involved in an accident,"
Colonel Leonard Hlathi said.
On Saturday, police constables Thulani Mathe,
35, and Walter Nxumayo, 32, were in the parking lot of a shopping centre in
Nelspruit when they allegedly demanded R1 000.
"Mathe and Nxumayo apparently told the
young man that he will not be taken for blood tests if he gave them the
money," Hlathi said.
The driver paid R400, and in exchange the
policemen allegedly let him go home.
The White River K9 Unit received a tip off
about the alleged corruption and Mathe and Nxumayo's car was stopped and then
escorted to Nelspruit police station.
Mathe and Nxumayo were questioned and
searched, but the R400 was not found.
A police captain intervened and decided to
arrest the constables, following a preliminary investigation.
Mathe allegedly assaulted the captain, and so
faces a charge of assault in addition to the corruption charge he and Nxumayo
face.
The men would apply for bail on Tuesday.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Top cop held for recruitment fraud
2014-07-28 18:55
Johannesburg - A Benoni police cluster
commander is out on bail after appearing in the Moroka Magistrate's Court in
Soweto for alleged fraud, Gauteng police said on Monday.
Vuyokazi Ndebele was released on bail of R2
000, Brigadier Neville Malila said.
She was expected back in court on 18 August.
Ndebele was arrested at her home on Sunday
night in connection with an ongoing investigation into corruption in the SA
Police Service recruitment process, Malila said.
Twelve people had already been arrested.
Ndebele is linked to the recruitments in
Soweto.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Durban metro probing rape claims
2013-08-30 07:19
Johannesburg - An internal probe is underway
into claims that a metro policeman demanded sex from prostitutes and filmed
them against their will, Durban metro police said on Thursday.
"The metro is investigating what is going on and dealing with the suspension procedures," said Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi.
"The investigation will determine the way forward."
The New Age reported on Thursday that lawyers for the Women's Legal Centre (WLC) said the officer could be charged with rape.
WLC spokesperson Sithuthukile Mkhize told the newspaper she assumed the prostitutes refused to have sex with the officer and he forced himself on them.
"This constitutes rape in terms of the Sexual Offences Act. And yes, women can lay a criminal charge against him for sexual assault or rape," she was quoted as saying.
The prostitutes were operating from Durban's Point precinct.
According to the report, the footage was discovered by the officer's now ex-girlfriend after she opened two files on two cellphone memory cards she found.
The constable reportedly filmed himself having sex with at least five prostitutes.
Msomi said the investigation would determine how many officers were involved and whether criminal charges would be laid.
"According to information, there could be more than one person involved, but that will come out once the investigation is completed," he said.
"If there is a criminality involved, the matter will be referred to the director of public prosecution."
He said the officer was still at work because, according to the police's disciplinary and suspension procedures, an officer could not be suspended until he had stated his side of the story before a disciplinary hearing.
"The metro is investigating what is going on and dealing with the suspension procedures," said Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi.
"The investigation will determine the way forward."
The New Age reported on Thursday that lawyers for the Women's Legal Centre (WLC) said the officer could be charged with rape.
WLC spokesperson Sithuthukile Mkhize told the newspaper she assumed the prostitutes refused to have sex with the officer and he forced himself on them.
"This constitutes rape in terms of the Sexual Offences Act. And yes, women can lay a criminal charge against him for sexual assault or rape," she was quoted as saying.
The prostitutes were operating from Durban's Point precinct.
According to the report, the footage was discovered by the officer's now ex-girlfriend after she opened two files on two cellphone memory cards she found.
The constable reportedly filmed himself having sex with at least five prostitutes.
Msomi said the investigation would determine how many officers were involved and whether criminal charges would be laid.
"According to information, there could be more than one person involved, but that will come out once the investigation is completed," he said.
"If there is a criminality involved, the matter will be referred to the director of public prosecution."
He said the officer was still at work because, according to the police's disciplinary and suspension procedures, an officer could not be suspended until he had stated his side of the story before a disciplinary hearing.
- SAPA
Crimes of the South African Police Service
Cop arrested for rape
hailed as victory
August 13 2013 at 10:10am
By Daneel Knoetze
By Daneel Knoetze
euters
File
photo
Cape Town - Sex
worker activists have hailed as a rare victory the speedy arrest of a Cape Town
police captain accused of raping a sex worker.
They said that
most such cases went unreported - despite a pilot education drive rolled out in
the province to sensitise officers in dealing with sex workers.
The Independent
Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) on Monday confirmed that a captain in
the Western Cape police’s Special Task Force had been arrested for rape last
week. He is the fifth police officer to be arrested for rape in the province
since July 10.
Ipid spokesman
Moses Dlamini said a 26-year-old woman had been picked up by the policeman in a
private vehicle in the early hours of August 3.
After agreeing
on a price for oral sex, the policeman allegedly changed his mind and demanded
sex. When the woman refused, he assaulted and raped her. After the rape, the
woman escaped and later reported the vehicle’s registration number to the
police.
Five days
later, the policeman was arrested and detained at Claremont police station. He
appeared in Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape and assault on
Monday.
Western Cape
NPA spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said the police officer was granted bail of R1
000 and ordered not to make contact with the complainant.
“We are
pleasantly surprised,” said Ntokozo Yingwana of the Sex Workers Education and
Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat), adding that often sex workers were too afraid to
report rapes. In this case it appeared that the woman did not know the alleged
rapist was a police officer.
“Usually there
is a tardiness in these investigations, and we have to do a lot of canvassing
before we see an arrest. In this case we came to hear about the rape only after
the arrest had already been effected. This should be precedent setting.”
Sweat have
vowed to picket at the man’s future court appearances.
Pickets of this
sort were more than a show of solidarity and could have a discernible impact on
how seriously a case was taken by prosecutors and the Justice Department, said
Sithuthukile Mkhize of the Women’s Legal Centre. “Unfortunately, sex workers
are often marginalised and cases can come to naught if they do not have the
backing of organisations, activists and members of the public who continue to
lobby on their behalf,” she said.
In August last
year, the Women’s Legal Centre and Sweat published a report on the abusive
relationship between police and sex workers in South Africa. The report found
that 70 percent of the 308 sex workers who were interviewed had experienced
abuses at the hands of police officers.
These included
cases of rape, sexual assault, assault and police corruption - abuses which
were found to be “systemic and widespread” in the police’s dealings with sex
workers.
Following the
report, Deputy Minister of Police Makhotso Magdalene Sotyu visited Sweat’s Cape
Town offices and allowed the organisation to run training workshops at police
stations.
Ninety-five
officers have since received the training, and “sensitisation pamphlets” are
due to be distributed at police stations. Sweat hopes that the training
programme can be rolled out to other provinces in the coming months.
daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
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