I was completely at a loss for words when we received comment from the Roodepoort Police regarding an alleged motorcycle syndicate that is operating in the area.
Journalist Riaan van Zyl is diligently investigating various allegations surrounding the syndicate and the lack of response from the police.
What left me dumbfounded was when he enquired about the theft, allegations surfaced that some police officers are involved. According to the police, they don’t understand what the issue is.
A captain at a particular police station said the issue was discussed at length with her superiors and where they come from, they don’t have cases such as motorcycle theft. They are very confused.
She allegedly also said it is the same with dog poisonings.
They don’t understand why people want to open cases after their dogs have been poisoned.
The captain’s comments that in ‘their culture’ it is okay to kill dogs and that they don’t understand why ‘we’ treat dogs as possessions, left me flabbergasted.
One resident said the police allegedly claimed they don’t take fingerprints anymore because ‘it is of no use’.
The top brass at the station was more concerned that we were chasing deadlines and said that a four working day period within which to give comment was not acceptable.
This after the captain initially claimed they were treating the motorcycle theft syndicate with the ‘highest priority’.
It is scary to think that some police officers – not all – seem to show no interest in crime and crime trends in the area. We have received so many complaints from the community about the lack of service from the police and they want us to help them.
After all these allegations and no response from the police, we are at a loss.
We will, however, keep you updated if the police ever decide to respond to our queries.
Until next week, take care of one another.
I would like to leave you with this thought: Try to care more for your neighbour, friends and family so that good things can come your way.
