Allegations investigated and unfounded
RECORD received comment from Fox Security on the allegations and accusations that the homeless are being abused and assaulted by members of security companies
ALBERTON – RECORD received the following comment from Fox Security on the allegations and accusations that the homeless are being abused and assaulted by members of security companies (published in the RECORD of
August 5, ‘Abuse of homeless under the spotlight’):
After investigating the evidence, that was mentioned in your letter requesting comment about the alleged assault and abuse of the homeless, the following points need to be highlighted:
*All our armed reaction vehicles are equipped with tracking devices.
*None of our vehicles were in Rosettenville without management consent at any time.
*As far as management knows, none of our officers are equipped with any self-defense tazors.
*Our reaction officers are not permitted by law to search any person without a SAPS member being present.
*Also take in mind that reaction officers do change security companies from time to time.
*Your letter does not supply any dates or times of when the alleged incidents took place.
*A specific house in 1st Avenue was given but no street number supplied. If such things happen at this address in 1st Avenue don’t we think the neighbours would also have complained by now?
*The victims confirm they smoke nyaope to make them sleep. The government recently warned people against the use of nyaope as this drug puts the user’s mind in a trance making them unaware of their actions.
*If the victims don’t know what kind of vehicle or security company assaults them, how can they know their names?
*Jenni and the victims confirm knowing who the dealers are and where they stay! Are they not now withholding information?
Fox Alarms and Security management
It was also brought to the attention of the RECORD, from several parties, that Alberton SAPS refused to take their statements. To this the RECORD received the following statement from Alberton SAPS:
The police may not refuse to take a statement from a complainant. All police officers wear name tags to identify themselves and if members of the community did not receive help from a police officer, they are welcome to come and complain and give us the name of the officer involved.
If an officer is accused of having refused to help a member of the public, internal investigations are conducted and if found to be true the SAPS member involved will be charged departmentally.
The police may not refuse to take a statement even if they belief it is false. The statement will be taken under oath and if it is found later that the person perjured themselves, that person will be charged for lying under oath.
Sergeant Phora Nkuna, Alberton SAPS spokesperson
