Craig Kinsman from Roodepoort writes:
It is very hard to imagine a crisis in Roodepoort or something that will require prompt and decisive action. SAPS has now lost the last word in their name – they do not offer “Service” no longer.
My questions are:
a) Do we get service or is SAPS in Roodepoort simply existing from one paycheck to the other wishing nothing happens?
b) Is it the duty of each and every complaint to be acted upon with an investigation beyond an onsite tribunal of victims? When can you refuse to investigate or lay a charge? c) Is it the right of an on-duty police officer (especially one which is an officer) to refuse to give members of the public their name in fear that we will complain.
d) Is it not the duty of a police officer to get up from his chair and come to the counter at a police station to attend to a member of the public, rather than lean back like a slob and try his best not to attend to a matter just because it is late at night.
e) Is it a police officers first alternative to threaten members of the public with charges because they get upset and discontent with the fact that their matter is not being dealt with clearly because of laziness. When will officers be charged with dereliction of duty?
I cannot understand how the service is now operating and when will we get the service we deserve. Does it need a new budget or renovation,etc for a man to simply stand up and do the duty he has to because he expects a salary at the end of the month?
On the morning of 26 September 2015, my neighbours again continued to make noise via shouting and screaming and also loud music. After requesting them to stop which they disregarded, I went to Roodepoort Police Station in person with someone who stays with us.
After an exchange that only ended in a shouting match and the officer (the only one in the office) later a female officer arrived but was not interested in attending and just left referring me to the officer who was not co-operating. He refused to give his name. He just kept saying haai. It seems like he was a Captain.
I cannot understand that an officer of such rank has such poor communication and assistance skills. He said he could not do anything as people could make noise until 2am every day then he could request them to stop. When I asked him to indicate by laws that indicated such, he refused. He did not even get up from his desk a distance away to come to the counter to attend to me. He was very obstinate.
Eventually he said because I was loud he would lay a charge (case) against me and he could not advise what that would be (in connection with what). When we left he took my address and telephone number and said he will call the sector police to visit them. Well 2am came and went and the noise next door continued.
We have no assistance from SAPS. Things are falling apart. I am urging members of the public to start a process of calling Roodepoort SAPS to account for their behaviour and to start disciplining officers who are simply not doing their job. I this the way we want Roodepoort to go – chaos with SAPS leading the way?
Roodepoort SAPS spokesperson Nonhlanhla Khumalo said she is aware of the incident and the matter has been handed over to the Provincial Police Department.
