JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – “I wish to express my utmost disgust at the Johannesburg Metro Police. They are supposed to set an example and not be bullies
“On Saturday morning July 26 morning, they blocked the two roads I use as the entrance to my home.
“I told them that I live there and I need to get home urgently, but I was rudely told to go away and come home at 14:00.
“It was the end of the month and my children could not get home.
“Who do they think they are? And if they needed to do this for a funeral, then we should have been notified.
“They should have blocked one road and left the other one for us. The roads were Albert, Valda, North and Mable.
“We pay for our homes, rates and road taxes and we have the right to go to our homes.
“Does the law only apply to us and not the Metro police?” said Oakdene resident.
“The JMPD had anticipated that on the day of the funeral for the late JMPD Acting Director Harold Maila, there would have been many people who would want to go to the family house in Marlbarton.
“To prevent total chaos and traffic congestion to the neighbourhood, a decision was made to have access control to the house and divert thousands of mourners to the church in the morning when the funeral cortege had to leave for the service.
“The JMPD wishes to extend its sincere apologies to any neighbours who may have been inconvenienced by that arrangement.
“Acting Director Harold Maila was a dedicated law enforcement member of the Department for 40 years and a serving member on the executive committee for the Institute of Traffic Officers and Municipal Police Officers of South Africa (ITMPO). He will surely be missed by his family, friends and colleagues,” said JMPD Spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.
