Gauteng police are appealing to community members, especially those using Social Network sites to refrain from sending or distributing false or unconfirmed information regarding police activities on these sites, especially Twitter and Facebook.
This, just one of such reports, follows an incident a week ago where a twitter message regarding a robbery incident that took place in the Linden area was sent and distributed on the Social Network site. The tweet alleged that the woman was pregnant, shot in the face and had to wait for more than 14 hours for the police.
This information was incorrect as the police were on the scene within minutes. On arrival at the scene, the robbers were already gone and the woman who was injured was being taken by an ambulance. She was hit in the head with a firearm butt.
SAPS communicators responded to the tweet and corrected the message immediately, however, the tweeter persisted on distributing the wrong message despite numerous appeals to refrain from doing so.
Police are appealing to communities to work hand-in-hand with them in the fight against crime. The Police in the province are accessible to communities through various mediums which includes 10111and sector policing where contact numbers are displayed on the side of the sector vehicles - this approach has been in operation since 2010 - as well as Crime Stop on 08600 10111 and the Crime line SMS number 32211.The assistance and cooperation from the community would be appreciated.
For any further information, please contact:
Colonel Kweza
Cell: 082 300 0531
False information circulated on social network sites
