Police accused of being biased
The Moroke police in the Sekhukhune area say they want to prevent the vandalism of property at Marula Platinum Mine
LIMPOPO – This as the enraged community of Diphale villages raises their displeasure with the mine, whom they accuse of failing to develop their community.
But the community has accused the police of alleged interference and siding with the mining company.
Community leaders say whenever they try to engage the management of Marula Platinum Mine, police officers from Moroke police station harass them, even arresting them for no apparent reason.
Civic leader, Edward Phasha, says they were informed that the police have been deployed as mediators during their negotiations with the mining company.
However, Phasha has accused the police of being biased, allegedly siding with the mining company.
“We were ready to engage the mining bosses in a peaceful discourse. Police just come and arrest people of the community, especially the leadership. We are saying the arrests are illegal because when the detainees are taken to court, the magistrate is not provided with dockets. Police officers who come to arrest residents tell us that they are acting in this manner because they are taking instruction from police management.”
Asked why they arrest civilians without valid reason, Moroke police spokesperson, Const Kgalake Mampuru, says: “one of the police’s key commitments is to protect state and public property. It is for this reason that we will arrest anyone who destroys such property”.
He dismissed claims of interference, saying: “we are not interfering at all, what we are doing is to keep an eye on their negotiations with mining management. We are on high alert; in case a scuffle ensues, we should be able to quell the situation forthwith”.
