Woman claims SAPS refused to assist
A woman, who was allegedly assaulted by her neighbours, claims the Edenvale SAPS has refused to allow her to open a case against her attackers.
According to Ms Tammy Westenberg, she has received no help from the Edenvale SAPS on two occasions since July 22.
“On July 22 I visited the police station to report a missing three-year-old,” she said.
When she arrived at the police station a constable working in the client service centre (CSC) handed her a form to fill in.
“While I was busy writing down the details of the missing child, the constable assisting me asked me if I could read. I was upset by this because I was doing what she told me to do,” Ms Westenberg said.
She then asked to speak to a Captain in the CSC who was, according to her, “just as rude”.
“I was told that they had given me the incorrect form. Neither of the two had the decency to apologise for their mistake. I was asked to please leave the police station because they would only deal with the mother of the missing child. The mother of the child and the child stay with me and are in my care. I support them,” Ms Westenberg said.
She then went back to the police station to ask if the phone number of the person who was with the child would be traced and was told that it could only be done the following morning.
“There was a three-year-old out there and no one would help us look for him,’ she said.
Fortunately, the child was returned the following afternoon.
Since her fruitless attempts to report the child missing, she has not received a phone call from the SAPS to ask if the child has been found.
On Saturday evening last week, Ms Westenberg again required the services of the Edenvale SAPS.
When she arrived home at her flat in Tenth Avenue, an altercation broke out between her family and neighbouring tenants.
“Tenants living in two other units at the flats had parked in such a way that I could not park my car in the garage I pay for,” she said.
According to Ms Westenberg, the tenants had been drinking since early that afternoon and her requests for them to move their vehicle ended in the tenants screaming at her and her family.
“They said we were disturbing their party. They were calling my daughter all sorts of names,” she said.
“I again asked the tenants nicely to send down the owner of the vehicle so that it can be moved forward but when she did arrive she brought all her friends with,” Ms Westenberg said.
“They started attacking us with sticks and sharp steel objects,” she said.
She pulled her daughter to one side and called the Edenvale SAPS who only arrived after the third call.
“Six uniformed officers arrived,” she said.
Ms Westenberg said officers refused to talk to her because she was drunk.
“This is ridiculous I do not even drink,” she said.
She added that the officers simply stood around and watched while one of the tenants attacked her.
“They did absolutely nothing. By this time my daughter had collapsed from shock and was unconscious,” she said.
Ms Westenberg said officers took their time calling an ambulance to assist her daughter.
“I approached them again but they refused to help me and my children,” she said.
Her 12-year-old son ran to the fire department to call for an ambulance to assist her daughter.
“A woman from the flats was holding onto one of the officers and offering him a good time if they do not arrest them,” she said.
The following day, Ms Westenberg again visited the Edenvale Police Station to try lay a charge of assault against her attackers.
“Again the SAPS refused to open a case. One of the female officers threw two forms on the counter and said I should get the doctor who treated me and my daughter to complete the forms,” she said.
On Monday night last week she returned the completed forms to the police station but this time was told to get a peace letter against her attackers, which she would have to obtain from the court.
“I walked out of the police station and tore up the doctor’s letters and threw them away. It is no use to me if I am not allowed to lay any charges,’ she said.
Acting spokesperson for the Edenvale SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts said that the matter has been reported and is under investigation.
“I cannot elaborate on details of the investigation but I can confirm a standing order has been issued against the SAPS,” Lt Col Roberts said.
“If there was an assault that took place in police presence, this will be highlighted during the investigation,” he said.
