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12 November 2001 The Executive Director of the Independent Complaints
Directorate (ICD), Adv Karen McKenzie wishes to inform about the outcome of her
interaction with the Mzamba, Muldersdrift communities and Bantoane Tribe in the form of
visits during the Imbizo Focus Week (5-11 November 2001). Adv. McKenzie commenced her
program by visiting the Mzamba (Umgungundlovu) community in the Eastern Cape Province on
Friday, 09 November 2001. The Executive Director then proceeded to the Muldersdrift
(Krugersdorp) community in the Gauteng Province on Saturday, 10 November 2001 and her
final visit was at the Bantoane Tribe (Dennilton) in the Mpumalanga Province on Sunday, 11
November 2001. It must be mentioned that there are complaints, concerns
and recommendations from the visited communities. Among complaints received from the
Mzamba community is that a police officer stationed at the Mzamba police station had
removed female inmate from the police cells to the offices and raped her. It was
revealed that no action was instituted against the suspect. The unemployed victim is
currently struggling with a two-year-old child as a result of the alleged rape. The
communities complained that police owned minibus taxis and are perpetrators of taxi
violence by allegedly supplying arms and ammunition to the taxi industry in that
area. It is also alleged that some police are involved in criminal activities and
they seem to be untouchable. The community is up in arms as they expressed lack of
confidence and trust in the police. They mentioned that they are reluctant to lodge
complaints at Mzamba police station because their complaints often fall on deaf
ears. The community recommended that police in the Mzamba police station be
transferred to somewhere else and the station commissioner be replaced as a matter of
urgency. However the ICD encouraged the community to continue reporting their cases
to the said station and work hand in glove with the police. In Muldersdrift the community is experiencing unlawful
evictions by the white farmers and police seem to be reluctant to attend to their
complaints against those farmers in that area. The community echoed their concerns
that the local policing forum is made of whites only and meetings are not properly
publicised or announced to the community. As a result they do not have a good
relation with police. The top management of Mulderdrift police station comprise of
whites only. The community view that as a problem because their complaints are not
properly handled if not attended al at all by police. Among complaints received is
that police drink alcohol on duty some report on duty drunk. There was also a
complaint that a seven-year-old boy was knocked down by a vehicle by white young boys
occupants who were not in possession of drivers license in Muldersdrift in 1994 and
nothing was done by the Mulderdrift police. As a result that boy didn’t
receive claims from the accident fund. There is a concern that police are not doing
anything about the vigilante group (Mapogo a Mathamaga) which normally takes law unto
themselves. Sometimes when police are called to attend a crime scene they will cite
a transport problem while they are often seen doing shopping with their wives at the local
Spar complex using police marked vehicles. The community recommended that the top
white management of that station be transformed. With the Bantoane tribe, there is a service delivery
problem by the Dennilton police station. It was mentioned that when police are
called to attend a crime scene transport is stated as a reason for not attending on time
or even not attending at all. There are cases which police are not doing any
progress. There was case were a young man was shot by another after an argument
ensued between the two. As a result the shot young man is currently wheelchair
bound. It is alleged that no statements were obtained from the witnesses; there is
no progress in that case. The acting chief of that tribe assured the community that
there would be a satellite station in that area in due course. Since an agreement
was reached during the negotiations with the SAPS Mpumalanga Provincial
Commissioner’s office. The Executive Director made an undertaking to all the
visited communities that allegations received involving police complicity and criminality
will be persuaded. Some of the recommendations made about changes in the SAPS will
be forwarded to the Minister For Safety and Security. The Executive Director said: “Our visits to the aforesaid communities brought into prominence our involvement and commitment to Government’s Imbizo Focus Week (5-11 November 2001). The ICD was brought into being for the purpose of ensuring that the police never again have that king of power over innocent people- the power of silence, the power of discrimination, the power of life and the power of death. It was shocking to learn that the community has lost confidence to some police even come to an extend of decided not to report cases in a police station which is suppose to be protecting the them. The police are supposed to be the custodians of law enforcement in this country and not to be seen nor perceived as criminals or the untouchables by the community members. The message was clear to the communities since they wanted us to continue visiting other communities and even considering returning to the visited areas. The Imbizo Week was a fruitful exercise which can contribute towards the life improvement of our people”. Issued by Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) Steve Mabona |
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