Victim in Florida head-on collision raises questions about JMPD resources

A volunteer servant of the community is still fuming after what he believes was mistreatment at an accident scene.

Farhad Sardiwalla was on patrol along Golf Club Terrace at around 22:30 on June 15, when he was struck by a vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road. The incident occurred across from Len Rutter Park and to add to the oncoming vehicle’s lack of proper navigation, the Izuzu bakkie was barreling through the streets with his headlights off.

Sardiwalla sustained a broken arm, severe bruising to his legs and his Golf will have to be scrapped. Sardiwalla is the chairperson of the Florida Community Policing Forum (CPF) so has immediate access to a vast network in the area. “I managed to exit the vehicle and called for assistance. Within minutes, security personnel and first responders reached and secured the scene. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) was called to the accident scene,” he explained.

While waiting for authorities, Sardiwalla made contact with the other driver and the CPF chairperson was adamant that the man had been consuming alcohol. When JMPD officers arrived, they interviewed both parties and the two officers took the statements of the two drivers, with Sardiwalla requesting the other man be tested for alcohol.

“The officer replied that he can not as he did not have a breathalyser unit,” claimed Sardiwalla.

Well versed in the relevant procedures, he then requested a blood test be done on the driver, another request that was declined. “Lastly, I asked if he was going to arrest the driver of the Isuzu for reckless and negligent driving but he replied ‘no’ and proceeded to his vehicle and left,” Sardiwalla further claimed.
He has since laid complaints with JMPD requesting feedback regarding the lack of breathalysers, as well as a failure to take a blood test or arrest the man.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla explained the shortage of breathalysers, saying, “Ideally, it would be great to have a breathalyser in every vehicle, but we don’t have enough to do so. At most times supervisors on shift will keep the breathalyser and when the officers need to utilise it, the supervisor will be called to the scene for officers to inspect the suspected drunk driver. JMPD also uses Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing (EBAT) breathalysers which gives an immediate print-out of the driver’s alcohol level, eliminating the need for a blood sample. EBAT breathalysers are permitted by the court.”

Elaborating on the matter regarding the testing of blood, Fihla added, “If the officer reasonably suspects that the motorist is under the influence of alcohol, and in the absence of a breathalyser, the blood sample of the motorist can be taken by a registered nurse. JMPD has not experienced a shortage of breathalysers, especially for drunken driving operations, instead, the department has experienced a shortage of blood samples kits at times, due to a national shortage.”

Sardiwalla spends many hours a week in the company of authorities attempting to reduce crime and is perplexed that drivers worthy of arrest were slipping through the law’s fingers due to lack of resources. “Having responded to many accidents in the Florida area, the service received by some JMPD officers on many scenes seems to follow the above pattern and most community members are afraid to complain,” he stated.

Speaking at the scene several weeks later, a frustrated Sardiwalla looked over the debris from his vehicle still present on the centre median.

“What if your family member is involved in an incident like that and the driver just gets away?” he questioned. Wondering why matters always reach crisis proportions, he asked “What happens when someone dies? How will we administer justice?”

Should motorists experience similar incidents or wish to report misconduct, they can report the matter to JMPD Internal Affairs on 011 490 1797.