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Police
hamper insurance claim
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The deadline for the submission of an insurance claim is fast
approaching for a Johannesburg man who has struggled to get the relevant
documents from police after a break-in at his home.
Mohamed Kasodjee returned from a December holiday in Malaysia to many a South African’s worst nightmare – his home in total disarray. Three people had broken into and ransacked his house, recklessly damaging the interior as they looted. One of them was arrested. “I followed procedure, gave the police a report and exchanged contact details with the investigating officer at Lenasia police station.” Kasodjee was insured and eager to submit his claim but he then encountered a problem he did not foresee. “The insurance company can’t process my claim without a police report. I’ve been trying to get hold of it for weeks,” he said. His phone calls to the investigating officer often went unanswered and unreturned, he said, and his visits to the police station also proved fruitless. “I’ve been there three, four times. The one time that she was actually there, she couldn’t give me a copy of the report because the room with the copier in it was locked,” he said. Kasodjee said the officer, a constable, pormised to e-mail the report but, in following up on the promise after again losing contact with her, he was told by one of her superiors that she was only allowed to deliver the report in person. “I only have a month to submit my claim and that deadline is fast approaching,” Kasodjee said. Lenasia police spokesman Captain Mbulaheni Netshivhodza, after arranging a meeting with Kasodjee and the station commander, encouraged residents to engage with officers’ superiors. “If you are unhappy with the service or the attitude from your investigating officer, ask for somebody in senior management, preferably the station commander. We are more than willing to assist.” By Ernest Wolmarans |
Monday, March 3, 2014
Crimes of the South African Police Service
