Police officers who think they are a law unto themselves and could with impunity undermine the rights of ordinary citizens should be reminded that they have no place for them in the South African Police Service (SAPS), North West Premier Thandi Modise said on Thursday.
“Though everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Incidents of police brutality and violence unleashed on citizens by members of the police service have the potential to antagonise communities against the police and should be stemmed out before it’s too late. The culture of violence should not be allowed to take root in our police service as it would undermines democratic and accountable community policing that the culture of respect for human rights that our people yearned for,” emphasised Premier Modise in response to the arrest of a Lomanyaneng Police Sergeant by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
Modise condemns alleged incident and comments the IPID on the arrest and says that the directorate’s impartiality and objectivity in their investigations gives hope that the days of police officials who have not yet internalised the philosophy of a democratic and accountable community policing in the dignified blue uniform are drawing to a close.
The Premier called on police officials who are still true to upholding the rights of citizens and the pledge to serve and protect communities to blow the whistle on the few rotten potatoes who are giving the police service a bad name.
The sergeant was arrested after allegedly grabbing a complainant by his neck and dragging him in a state vehicle for about 100 meters. The complainant had according to the IPID advised a boy whom he purportedly saw police harassing while on his way to tuckshop at around 8h30 pm in Setlopo village.
After the police had finished talking to the boy, the complainant had called the boy to advise him about what to do should he feel that he was treated badly by the police.
The victim who happens to be a court interpreter at Molopo Magistrates Court sustained injuries to his feet during the incident and was taken to hospital by his neighbour. The sergeant had allegedly asked him if he knew what police were capable of these days.
The case was reported to the police on Tuesday 12 March 2013 and they referred it to the IPID for investigation whereupon the suspect was arrested on Wednesday at Lomanyaneng SAPS where he works He was subsequently charged and will appear in the Mmabatho Magistrates Court tomorrow , Friday 15 March 2013.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
