Residents protest against corrupt police officers
Residents of Manningburg Section at Ga-Kgapane are threatening to take the law into their own hands if corrupt police detectives are not removed from Bolobedu Police Station.
In a memorandum of grievances handed to the Bolobedu Police Station management by protesting residents last Wednesday, residents are demanding the removal of corrupt police detectives within seven days.
They accuse some of the police detectives of taking bribes from criminals who are terrorizing them by breaking into their homes almost every day to steal electronic appliances such as plasma televisions, laptops computers, music systems, cellular phones and many more other households items. Residents say some of the burglary cases reported in 2012 remain unresolved despite the suspects being known to the investigating officers. Some say they have lost confidence in the police. “Police are failing to effectively investigate the cases we report because they are working with criminals,” said one concerned resident who refused to be identified for fear of being victimized.
They also demand that reported cases be properly investigated and the perpetrators be brought to book as a matter of urgency.
The residents also demand an increase in police visibility in the area during the night.
Residents say they do not feel safe in their own homes because of the break-ins and criminal activities that happen every night in their area.
Some of the residents carried placards which reads: Sick and tired of corrupt detectives, case are for sale, tired of police who are not working and police work with criminals.
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Maswanganyi who received the memorandum on behalf of the station management said the allegations contained in the memorandum will be thoroughly investigated by the relevant authorities within the South African Police Services.
He said the outcome will be communicated to the community leaders.
