Police officers caught up in bribery allegations

LOCAL residents have threatened to start civil action to root out corruption at the Greenwood Park Police Station. This comes after a number of reports of residents being randomly stopped and accused of various traffic offences and violations. The officers demand a cash bribe and often talk in Zulu to intimidate their targets. What’s more, two constables at the station have been fingered in the accusations. The officers names are known to the Northglen News.

The paper is aware of two incidents allegedly involving officers from the station. No cases have been opened with many residents citing fear of intimidation as reasons why they have not come forward.

Officer refused to speak in English

A Durban North resident who did not want to be named recently spoke to the newspaper to describe her traumatic ordeal at the hands of the officers who asked for a bribe. The resident who did not want to be named said she, alongside her boyfriend were stopped on Rinaldo Road.

“My boyfriend was driving me home when we saw a police car ahead of us with its hazards on. He attempted to drive around the car and the officer flashed his lights at him to pull over. The male officer then approached the car and stuck his head in drivers window and began shouting at me. He refused to speak English in the initial part of the conversation. He questioned why I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, and he began tugging aggressively at the seat belt. His partner, a female officer, walked around to my side and just stared at me.

“He then asked why my boyfriend’s disc was expired. He asked how much money we had and demanded that we hand over the key of the car. When my boyfriend said he didn’t have any money, the officer threatened to impound the car. Admittedly the disc of the car was expired and when I asked for a ticket. He looked at me and told me to shut up,” said the traumatised resident.

She added at no point did the officers identify themselves. Both officers were allegedly without name badges as well. While no money was exchanged the officers let them go.

“I was really scared they would follow us home. They bullied and intimidated us which is totally unacceptable. I was so shaken and I phoned Robin Candy (chairman of the Greenwood Park CPF) for help, but he didn’t answer at the time. I then phoned my friend who works in the legal profession to find out what we could do and gave her the registration of the police vehicle,” she said.

Community needs to take a stand

Vinny Moodley, who is a legal practitioner, said she immediately contacted the police station to demand action.

“When I questioned the station, they confirmed the car was on duty but the officer in charge that night tried to brush the issue aside. I then sent an emailed Durban Central Cluster Commander Major General Bala Naidoo who issued an so101, which is an internal investigation.

“As a community we need to stand up. There’s so many complaints and residents who have been intimidated and asked for bribes. This from public officials tasked with protecting us. My hope is that others will come forward and take a stand against the officers.

Corruption will be rooted out

Lt Col Zethu Ngobese, spokesman for the Greenwood Park SAPS, said she was aware of the alleged cases. She confirmed the two officers named in the bribery claims were still with the station.

“This matter was brought up at the CPF meeting last month. While I’m aware of these claims, no cases have been opened at the station. However, I must stress, If the community have fallen victim to this type of crime, they need to come forward.

“If we open a case, we can charge the officer/s criminally. The two officers accused of bribery are still with the station and no cases have been opened against them. We want to work with the community and this sort of crime needs to be reported,” Ngobese said.

Issue is ongoing: De Boer

uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said he had boycotted attending CPF meetings because of he felt residents concerns were not taken seriously by the station.

“Robin Candy and I are aware of incidents of residents being intimidated or forced to pay a bribe. This amounts to blatant corruption and is not an isolated incident, but an ongoing one. I urged residents to open cases and contact the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure independent oversight over the police,” he said.

To date no case has been opened against the officers.