Editor's choiceOpinion

OPINION: From the Editor’s Pen

If you were Lt Col Robbie Roberts, would you have stayed in Edenvale?

November 27, 2015
Marietta Lombard 3 minutes read
Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, won the Vispol (visible policing) Operational Manager of the Year Award at the 2014 SAPS Prestige Awards.

I, for one, am happy Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts is moving to Tembisa SAPS (Confirmed – Edenvale top cop to take up Tembisa post).

You see, I am also the editor of The Tembisan and will thus be fortunate enough to continue working with this award-winning crime prevention officer.

I have seen numerous good and bad officers come and go at Edenvale Police Station.

I was here when the likes of Blackie Swart (station commander), Deon Smit (head of detectives), Jan Ndlovu (detective), Kobus Small (detective), Cobus Latsky (crime prevention) and several others played a positive role in Edenvale policing and was fortunate to also witness the results of Lt Col Roberts’ dedicated police work.

His departure from Edenvale is no surprise, despite the shock expressed on social media when the announcement was made.

What do you expect, considering the public’s reaction to the “gold tooth” story aired on July 19?

I am not saying his move is a result of “gold tooth’s” shenanigans, but is it so easy to forget the insults, humiliation and name calling flung his way on Edenvale Facebook pages since then?

Is it so easy to forget his name was blackened in these social media attacks because of another’s doing?

Soon after “gold tooth” made headline news, it was followed by calls from all corners for investigations into Edenvale station management, which happens to include Lt Col Roberts.

Is it so easy to forget in 2014 already, in response to the allegations made by one of the complainants interviewed by Carte Blanche, that Lt Col Roberts then commented that complaints against police officers are not investigated at station level. In other words, he was not responsible, station management or not, for any action that should have been taken against “gold tooth” or any other Edenvale officer accused and guilty of wrongdoing.

Lt Col Roberts has, over the years, become a prominent figure in the NEWS’ content simply because he was the one to speak on record. That tells me he is the type of person to hold himself accountable – in public.

Since the “gold tooth” story aired, I have often heard my journalists return from crime scenes expressing shock at the way Edenvale police officers, including Lt Col Roberts, are treated by Edenvale residents.

Whether they were “gold tooth” or not was irrelevant, as the entire Edenvale Police Station came under attack, especially those known to the public, and as explained why, particularly Lt Col Roberts because he was well-known.

Imagine my surprise, considering the above, the outcry on social media with the announcement of his move to Tembisa.

People called for a second petition to keep him in Edenvale following last year’s petition when there were also talks of him transferring to another station (Roberts stays in Edenvale).

Something tells me this time around he is not putting up too much of a fight against being moved. I may be wrong, but would you want to stay in Edenvale if you became the target of social media tantrums?

The greatest concern should be that the Edenvale Police Station becomes known as just that – the Edenvale Police Station with no accountability to any particular person, manager, unit, leader or spokesperson. As it is, many if not the majority of Edenvale residents had Lt Col Roberts on speed dial. Unfortunately, a building cannot be on speed dial.

I recall, shortly before the July 19 “gold tooth” story aired, I had a discussion with Lt Col Roberts regarding the upcoming Carte Blanche story.

Although concerned, his eyes were filled with, dare I say, belief that Edenvale residents will see the bigger picture, so to say.

As the days, weeks and months went by it soon disappeared from his eyes.

Lt Col Roberts, as the Editor of The Tembisan, I welcome you to the Tembisa community.

I believe your presence will greatly benefit all Tembisans and I thank you for your co-operative relationship with the Bedfordview and Edenvale News over the years.

November 27, 2015
Marietta Lombard 3 minutes read

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