Vagrant’s complaint results in police intimidation

A Weltevreden Park resident, who would like to remain anonymous due to fear of victimisation, said on Monday 16 September he and his employees were cleaning up the park on the corner of JG Strydom Road and Bergkaree Avenue when they discovered a fire. They called Beagle Watch security to reprimand whomever started the fire. It appeared the fire was started by a vagrant and security officers instructed him to extinguish it as it was against City Park regulations.

Shortly after the security officers left, the resident was approached by the satellite police at the park. “The police told me that I’m under arrest because the vagrant said while we were cleaning the park I robbed him of R180”, the resident recalled.

According to the resident police threatened to arrest him for robbery if he didn’t give the vagrant the money he alleged was stolen from him. He was then forced to give the vagrant R200. “At no point did I come close to that man, how could I have taken his money.”

According to the resident, the police showed blatant bias while dealing with the situation. They denied him the opportunity to tell his side of the story and did not want to hear from witnesses. He said police also harassed him. “The female constable was shouting and swearing at me and passed racist remarks. She even threatened to beat me up and she said this with her hands holding the gun on her waist.”

The caravan police at the park are not stationed at Honeydew police station and were deployed by the provincial office. Police provincial spokesperson Brigadier Nevile Malila said they received the complaint and it has been forwarded to their inspectorate department who investigate police complaints. An investigator will be assigned and will contact the complainant soon. “The members’ conduct will be investigated internally and if any criminal conduct occurred it will also be investigated criminally.”