SAPS,
metro police clash over 'illegal' parking
04 Mar 2011 | Sipho Masombuka
THE police ministry will
investigate an alleged scuffle between the SAPS and Tshwane metro police
members over illegally parked vehicles near SAPS headquarters in the Pretoria
city centre yesterday.
Spokesperson ZweliMnisi said yesterday that the scuffle broke out when
metro police officers were about to impound an illegally parked police vehicle
outside the building.
Mnisi said an internal investigation would be conducted on the matter.
He said the incident "was not only disturbing but also embarrassing
to the whole cause of fighting crime" in the country.
"We have criss-crossed the country, building relationships with
communities, business, civic organisations and other vital role-players, as
such we shall not allow such comical acts to dampen society's confidence in
police," he said.
Mnisi said those found to have compromised the integrity of the police
force would be dealt with accordingly.
According to eye witnesses, members of the VIP protection unit accosted
the metro police officers who were about to impound their vehicles and a brawl
ensued.
"One of the guys from the SAPS drew a gun and everybody took cover
because we were frightened that he would shoot," said the witness.
Tshwane municipality's community safety spokesperson Willie Baloyi said
the top management from the metro police and the SAPS met to discuss the
incident.
