Police investigate community safety MEC
JOBURG – Gauteng Department of Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane has denied tearing up a man’s identity document (ID), but police confirmed that a case of malicious damage against her had been opened at Bramley Police Station.
The complainant alleged that while he was on his property in Marlboro, which he uses to operate his business, Nkosi-Malobane approached him and demanded to know who he was and what he was doing on the property. The complainant said he explained that the property was his, which Nkosi-Malobane disputed, claiming that the open space was her property.
The complainant alleged that the MEC then proceeded to ask for his ID and when he handed it over, she tore it up and gave it back to him. The matter was reported to the police where a case was opened against the MEC.
However, the MEC dismissed the man’s allegations, saying that whoever came up with this was deliberately undermining the successes made during a law enforcement operation. Nkosi-Malobane claimed that on that day, her department, together with law enforcement agencies in the province, had an anti-crime campaign which started in four Alexandra high schools. She said during the operation a tip-off was received about illegal activities in the township which included the selling of drugs and an illegal land invasion.
The MEC said, “In terms of land invasion, information was received about land which was illegally occupied in Setswetla and suspected to be used for parking stolen cars and stolen goods that are transported to neighbouring countries.
“On arrival at the illegally occupied land, law enforcement officers and I requested to see the owner and one gentleman claimed he was not around. He was then requested to phone him and he claimed that his phone was switched off. Later, a young man came and pointed at the same man [indicating] that he was the owner and the gentleman was requested to produce his ID.”
Nkosi-Malobane said she then instructed the same man to go and fetch his ID which seemed to have been tampered with. On inquiry, he claimed that his ID had been damaged when his trousers were washed.
Nkosi-Malobane said, “An inquiry was made with the Department of Home Affairs regarding the authenticity of the document and it was found to be in good standing. The team then indicated to the man that he needed to provide documentation to prove he was the owner of the land.”
The MEC said all of this occurred in the presence of about 100 people, including some members of the media, and at no stage did she or any member of the team touch the identity document.
Meanwhile, police provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Dlamini Lungelo said his office can confirm a case of malicious damage to property had been open and was under investigation.
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