Police chief to meet disgruntled residents
"The Umbilo Station Commander will take it upon himself to make sure that all the necessary steps and procedures are taken and followed up on."
GLENWOOD residents are hoping to finally get some answers from Umbilo SAPS at a meeting this morning (Thursday, 12 November), nearly three weeks after a vehicle crashed into their complex and the vehicle’s owner walked away without a trace.
Yesterday, Nosipho Bophela, chairperson of the Elm Gardens Body Corporate received a call from the station to confirm the meeting with the station commander, “I’m glad that they have finally responded to us, and I hope that some resolution and some much needed adjustments are done in they way that the SAPS responds and conducts the investigation further.”
The residents were left in shock on Saturday, 24 October after the grey Jeep Cheerokee crashed through two brick walls and ploughed into two parked vehicles at the complex. Attempts to get a follow up Malicious Damage to Property case opened at the station had also proved futile.
“We were the totally innocent victims of this carnage, left shocked and traumatised by the events and by the behaviour of the police, who were rude and uncooperative, and told the owner of the wrecked car that she was making them angry when she asked if the driver and owner would be tested for alcohol and drugs,” said Judith Yates, a resident who was awoken to the crash.
Yates hoped the residents would get some answers as the “unlicensed woman driver was taken to hospital by paramedics but had sustained no injuries, and the owner of the Jeep was allowed to go home without making a report.”
“We were repeatedly told that the matter would be dealt with by the insurance companies and they would make all enquiries necessary. It is not the duty of the insurance companies to investigate or hold accountable those who perpetrated this outrage. Their task is to examine the aftermath, evaluate the quotes and make the necessary payments. We will be seriously compromised financially by the excesses we have to pay on two cars, rebuilding, repairing water and electrical fittings to say nothing of the movable assets on which we cannot claim,” said Yates.
Lieutenant Pumzile Makaula, communications officer at Umbilo SAPS told Berea Mail a meeting had been arranged with the complainants. “The Umbilo Station Commander, Col Gerald Mkhize will take it upon himself to make sure that all the necessary steps and procedures are taken and followed up on,” she added.
