What action Roodepoort Police plans to take regarding the alleged motorcycle theft syndicate that is wreaking havoc on the West Rand, remains a subject for speculation.
On Friday 1 September the Record had a meeting with Roodepoort Police Station’s spokesperson, Captain Nonhlanhla Khumalo. In the meeting the issue of the alleged syndicate was brought to her attention as well as Pieter Fourie’s complaint that the police have done nothing about the theft of his three motorcycles. Fourie even recovered one of his motorcycles himself, but the police failed to enquire how. Khumalo indicated that the allegations were serious and that she would immediately call a meeting with station commander Brigadier Kupiso. At about 3pm the same afternoon she confirmed that she had a lengthy meeting with the brigadier. She also said the police would be in contact with Fourie.
On 7 September, four working days after the meeting Fourie complained that no one had contacted him yet despite the station spokesperson’s promise to do so. The Record then sent Khumalo an email asking for urgent, detailed and comprehensive comment on the multitude of shocking allegations, only to find out she is in hospital. The same email was then sent to Kupiso at 12pm, stating that the deadline for comment was 3pm. This was done in the light of the fact that it was four days since the meeting with the station spokesperson.
The Brigadier replied as follows:
“I am very disturbed with the fact that you forward a correspondence at 12.03pm and expect a swift response because your deadline is at 3pm the same afternoon. Needless to say, I Brigadier Kupiso, the Station Commander of SAPS Roodepoort have a lot of deadlines to meet in a given day (over and above that of the media) hence the organisation has created a criteria and protocol in handling media related aspects. There is always a standby officer within communication at Cluster level. The fact that Captain Khumalo is on sick leave does not mean the situation is a hopeless one. This week, the Cluster duty officer’s contact number is [withheld]. He will be pleased to talk to you as he has information into vehicle thefts.
“For the record, I do not have any knowledge of the other allegations mentioned in your correspondence. The only client I am in communication with is Fourie. Yes, all theft of motor vehicles/ cycles are investigated by the Vehicle Theft Unit.
“It is only fair to engage communication officers in time and not only when you are chasing your deadline so as to get factual reports from SAPS. All SAPS members in uniform are expected to wear name badges: that will make the police’s work pertaining to allegations against them easier when conducting investigations against them.
I trust the above will assist you even for future enquiries.”
The brigadier did not address any of the allegations or complaints. On Tuesday the Cluster spokesperson could not be reached.
The Record then pointed out the following:
“Dear Brigadier.
The Record went to see Captain Khumalo on Friday. So it is four days. She promised me on the day she would immediately discuss the problem with you, which she then obviously did not do if you have not received this information … A day is usually a fair amount of time for comment and the Record assumed that because the captain had told us she had a meeting with you on Friday, that these issues have been brought to your attention …
“The Record was not chasing a deadline, we brought this to your spokesperson’s attention on Friday 1 September. Were four days not enough? We are asking whether the police are going to address the overall problem, yet now we are talking about deadlines and protocol … (we will) then refer the matter to higher structures, which will include the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), as it seems Roodepoort Police have no desire to address the public’s valid concerns.
“You also have not responded to Fourie’s request on our behalf for setting up a meeting. He asked us to be there as he has lost all trust in Roodepoort Police.”
Read more here:
Video: Motorcycle thiefs caught on camera
Motorcycle thiefs on the prowl
Thieves take three motorcycles and trailer
