SAPS Youth Desk acts
unlawfully
Seen here
is a photo sent to the advertiser by a ...show more
Subsequent to a roadshow held by the SAPS Youth
Crime Prevention Desk, the Advertiser received a complaint about the misconduct
of Youth Desk members during their roadshow.
28 September 2012 |
Lesego Puso
The MEC Youth Desk
arranged this event, to show the community that they are taking hands with the
SAPS in the fight against crime and to involve the youth in the prevention of
crime. The route started at Boksburg North SAPS and went through to the East
Rand Mall, Reiger Park, Boksburg, Tsakane and ended at Brakpan SAPS.
The Station Commander was informed about the roadshow.
According to Boksburg resident, Lizel Fourie, who witnessed, what she refers to as the police’s “appalling” behaviour, men and women in a police vehicle were not conforming to the rules of the road.
“They had their sirens blazing and blue lights flashing while intimidating motorists along Rietfontein Road in Boksburg," said Fourie.
“I saw women hanging out of police vehicle windows, drivers not in uniform and overloaded police vehicles."
When prompted for comment on the matter, the Boksburg North police station’s station commander Sam Thambo said that he did not realise that the Youth Desk acted inappropriately, but feels that the community should understand what was happening.
"This incident that happened was not correct or justifiable, and will be addressed by the myself in person, on September 27, at 12 noon. By marketing themselves, they tarnished the SAPS name, by protruding through the window of a police vehicle. The members of the Youth Desk were properly briefed before the event, and they had deliberately protruded out of the police vehicle - one can say it was maybe through excitement of the youth that need to be properly addressed to stop reoccurrence in future," Thambo said in a statement to the Advertiser.
State vehicles maybe driven by members of the SAPS as long as such members possesses State driving authority, whether in uniform or not.
“The focus and goal of the day was excellent, but unfortunately the execution might have not been as great.
“The matter will be dealt with as I believe that if we spare the rod, we’ll spoil the child,” said Thambo.
