Public urged to report alleged police misconduct

Alex Police Station acting commander, Colonel Nhluvuko Zondi, has urged people with complaints against any member of the police force to approach her office.

Zondi said this in response to a message on social media claiming impropriety by the police on guard duty of detainees brought to the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court for their hearings.

The sender’s cellphone number was called several times but went unanswered. The post alleges that family members attending court were not allowed to give the detainees food, that the detainees were only fed sweet juice and cold drinks, and questioned where the budget allocated for food was spent.

Also, the message alleged that some police sources from the court claimed Indian detainees were favoured in the food allocation over black detainees. It further alleged that a detainee, who is taking antiretrovirals, was denied food which is essential to have before taking medication.

Zondi said any complaint about the police force in Alexandra ought to be lodged with her office so the police can establish its veracity and institute an investigation.

She said detainees in court and under police guard were kept under strict standing orders to ensure the detainees’ own safety and that of the court officials and the public. This, Zondi said, included the provision of food given at appropriate times, in addition to the meals they were expected to have had before being taken to court.

She said the standing orders were that no food or parcel can be passed to the detainees by anyone. Zondi made reference to an instance where police officers were attacked by detainees they were transporting from court, allegedly after the detainees had acquired weaponry suspected to have been passed to them by their accomplices during the court process.

A legal expert, who requested anonymity, said the normal procedure for anyone wanting to lay a complaint is to do so under oath to avoid unsubstantiated claims which may be damaging to the character of persons alleged of any wrongdoing. The expert said a statement made under oath makes the complaint credible and compelling for an investigation.

Other sources added that at one time, Alexandra Magistrates’ Court was held under siege by an armed detainee who had been given a radio in which a gun had been hidden. This prompted the improvement of security at the courts.

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