Toti residents reacted with mixed feelings on social media websites after Carte Blanche aired a segment on the crime situation and the recent vote of no confidence tabled on the police station’s management by sector policing forums.
Many defended SAPS members they knew or had assisted them after they were victims of crime, but acknowledged there was a problem regarding the attitudes of others.
Other residents were outraged as they felt the programme would do more harm than good for Toti, especially regarding property prices or influencing the town’s revenue from holidaymakers.
Many were of the opinion the police are useless in a time of crisis and instead implored more residents to join the Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO), as they felt this was the town’s only hope of survival against criminal elements.
“There is no denial there are some great cops and detectives in Toti, but that does not help much if they have to deal with incompetence, if cases do not get solved nor make it to court, or if no police van is available because most of them are in for repairs after being smashed,” said sector one and two forum spokesman, Louise Marais, who was instrumental in tabling the vote of no confidence dossier.
“We are trying to help those cops get a police station that will support them and the community. It is simply unacceptable the community has to pay for a security company, insurance, cameras and the CCPO while our tax money is going to the cops to get a free ride and sleep, or braai on the job. Paying more and more for your safety and security is not the answer. The answer is to make people accountable.”
People on social media websites were also critical of what they perceived to be ward 97 coucillor, Andre Beetge lying while being interviewed by Carte Blanche about his alleged assault at the hands of a policeman at Toti police station in December. The presenter mentioned the officers drinking while having a braai at the station, not Cllr Beetge.
“My affidavit with the SAPS, following an incident involving a police officer at the Amanzimtoti police station on the evening of 30 December, does not include reference to alcohol use or abuse by any officer,” said Cllr Beetge.
