SAPS discussion and news

[Rudolph]

Great post!

[playtym]

Cop gets 15 years for murder

2010-07-14 07:46

Durban - A KwaZulu-Natal policeman has been jailed for 15 years by the Pinetown Magistrate's Court for murdering a youth in 2007, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) said on Tuesday.

Constable Mlondolozi Makhathini shot dead Thamsanqa Abrahams, 19, at Kwandengezi in February 2007, while he was stationed at Harburg police station, ICD spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.

Abrahams was standing at the side of a road with a friend and his younger sister when Makhathini sped past them, almost knocking them over.

When Abrahams shouted at Makhathini for driving recklessly in an area where there were children, he became infuriated and did a U-turn.

In the ensuing confrontation, he pulled out his service pistol and shot Abrahams in the neck before fleeing. Abrahams died later in hospital.

The ICD arrested Makhathini the next day, said Dlamini. He was convicted on May 25 and was sentenced on Monday.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...urder-20100713

[playtym]

Time's up for tubby cops

2010-07-15 21:19

Polokwane - The Limpopo police force has decided to get their officers in shape.

The Lose Weight Stay in Shape project will be launched at the Lebowakgomo stadium outside Polokwane on July 23.

"The purpose of this project is to get our members to trim down and become slender," said Lebowakgomo police spokesperson Mamphaswa Seabi on Thursday.

He said the project was aimed at officers who are based within the Capricorn District Municipality.

On the day of the launch, police officers will be expected to run or briskly walk for 2.4km and do aerobics.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...-cops-20100715


I can just imagine it, "I walked briskly after the suspect and apprehended him, your honour."

[marius72za]

ATM bombed in supermarket, witnesses shaken

A group of armed men held up staff and blasted open an ATM at a supermarket in Nuffield, Springs on Friday, Gauteng police said.

"The men made the shop staff and customers lie down while they stole money from the tills and bombed the FNB ATM," said spokesperson Captain Johannes Ramphora.

The group, estimated to be in their twenties, robbed the Buyrite Supermarket around 8pm. No one was hurt, but the shop's property including counters, tills, windows and stock were "extremely damaged".

"We have arrested no suspects and have no leads yet, but we know that the getaway car they used is a white, C-Class Mercedes Benz."

Ramphora did not know how much money was taken from the tills or the ATM. - Sapa



Published on the Web by IOL on 2010-07-16 11:20:28

[baboon6]

http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/op...-thugs-in-blue

South Africa needs – no, it demands – much more than army ranks, shoot-to-kill imperatives and flamboyant top cops to ensure the police themselves don’t become the “thug blue line-up”.

It would seem there is a new thug in town. A different kind of thug who will either offer you a helping hand or impose his authority and, once you have shown your trust, violate you in the worst possible way. There was a time when the sight of a police car made you feel safe, or is that presumptuous? Should the question be, has there ever been a time when the sight of a police car made anyone feel safe?


A while back police chief General Bheki Cele gave the directive to his boys and girls in blue (and grey) to shoot-to-kill when the situation warranted it. To justify this move police minister Nathi Mthethwa and the ever-flamboyant Bheki Cele took great pains to inform us about the serious levels of crime the police to deal with in this country. A number of people welcomed this stance, but equal numbers were severely opposed. I am one of those that felt this was a bad idea and recent events have re-affirmed our opposition.
On the surface shoot-to-kill might seem like a brilliant and long overdue plan of action in a country where the crime is unusually violent and the perpetrators dangerously bold, where principled policemen and women on duty place themselves in the line of fire and in many cases lose their lives. But on the other hand this is also a country plagued by numerous accounts of the actions of what seem like barely emotionally stable police officers, and one has to wonder about the wisdom of giving these very people license to kill.
Sadly, our police force has been in the news one time too many for being the perpetrators of crimes against those they are supposed to protect. These criminals include the former chief of police Jackie Selebi recently found guilty of corruption. Others fitting the bill include the officers who gunned down 23-year-old Nathi Ntuli after they stopped him in the middle of the night in an unmarked car for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road. He was unarmed and yet they riddled his car with bullets (clearly they didn’t think to shoot at the tyres) and to add insult to injury, three of them left the scene of the accident during the investigation.


Murder and corruption are not the only crimes being committed. In 2007, a 16-year-old girl was arrested for shoplifting in a sweet store, while she was in police custody a Sergeant Motlhafi went into her cell and raped the teenager. Hers is not the only story. Another shocking account is the story of a young woman who had gone out to celebrate her birthday in Knysna and had an argument with her family. She walked to a nearby shop to calm down and was approached by two policemen who offered her a lift home. When she got into the car, they held her down and raped her. Fortunately she was able to escape, but not before being subjected to a traumatic two-hour game of hide-and-seek with the cops and their friends who wanted to make sure she didn’t live to tell her story. They even went hunting for her at the rape crisis centre. Closer to home a male friend was stopped on Grayston Drive in Sandton while driving home from an evening function. The four policemen roughly frisked him and searched his car. While they were at it they stole his wallet.
Reprobate cops are not a new phenomenon. In 1998 three unidentified black men were used by police for “training” their special unit dogs. These men were driven to a mine dump and repeatedly mauled by the dogs while they screamed in agony. Policemen stood by. They watched. They laughed.
Every other newspaper, every other day has accounts of police officers hijacking motorists, stealing from citizens and evidence rooms, dealing in drugs and selling firearms to those looking to commit cash heists - breaking the laws they are paid to uphold.


So General Cele, while we have full appreciation that you are caught in the fight of your life against crime in a country with one of the highest crime levels in the world, and are working towards protecting us from rapists, murderers and hijackers, the truth of the matter is some of the very people you have entrusted with the duty of shielding us are in more instances than not, the ones also causing us harm. Surely the fact that members of your police force are accused of rape and murder should be a serious concern for you, because it most certainly is a very serious concern for us.


As I see it, the fight against crime will not be won until you root out the criminals on their payroll. You want to fight crime, start with getting rid of the filth that has given the police force such a bad name and cast a shadow of doubt on those cops who are dedicated with principles and morals, and who are genuinely working to make the streets safer for us. It’s not enough to lash out against the rotten elements giving them the option “to choose whether they want to be heroes or gangsters”. It’s unacceptable that police officers who have been charged and, in some instances actually convicted of crime, are still allowed to stay in their jobs without some form of justice being meted out. They should feel the full brunt of the law (maybe even more so) and not be allowed to return to work or find employment in any service department again.


It’s also time that those who recruit realise that being a policeman is a calling more than a job (just as is being a teacher or a nurse). And it’s become glaringly obvious in all these disciplines that there should be stricter criteria regarding character when deciding who should be allowed to take up these positions. Too much abuse occurs at the hands of these people. Simply needing a job is just not good enough.


How long can we retain our sanity when we have to be frightened of not only the law-breakers, but the law-enforcers too?

[Radu.Cristinel]

Are "strong" and professionals, My respect for SAP.

[MinAmmo]

Whilst I fully agree with the post above, I spent 12 years in the SAP/S, I experienced the transition from force to service, walked the violent streets of an unnamed township with indecision as to if I had to shoot a suspect I would end in prison, and had to deal with the constant rumours that we where going to have our firearms taken from us, like the police in the UK, where I now reside.
Fortunately I never had to face a suspect and pull the trigger, but I was unlucky enough to catch a bullet myself. I think that the police should be given clear guidelines as to when to shoot and when not to shoot, I don't know if the author of the article has ever worked in the SAPS but I think he / she should spend a day in the life of a policeman and then comment. I agree that "Criminal policeman" exist (I arrested a couple when I worked in the Detectives) but not all are like that and most are doing the best they can fighting a difficult battle, with low pay, fewer benefits, lack of resources and the public turning against them.

Just an Ex Cops point of view.
Thanks

[Justin Floyd]

+1

Thanks for setting me straight with my APC facts
hi all, I see its a very small world

HB out

[curious george]

Anyone have details on the chopper crash/death of national intervention unit guys this morning?

[MinAmmo]

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Ne...bbery-20100723

[baboon6]

Whilst I fully agree with the post above, I spent 12 years in the SAP/S, I experienced the transition from force to service, walked the violent streets of an unnamed township with indecision as to if I had to shoot a suspect I would end in prison, and had to deal with the constant rumours that we where going to have our firearms taken from us, like the police in the UK, where I now reside.
Fortunately I never had to face a suspect and pull the trigger, but I was unlucky enough to catch a bullet myself. I think that the police should be given clear guidelines as to when to shoot and when not to shoot, I don't know if the author of the article has ever worked in the SAPS but I think he / she should spend a day in the life of a policeman and then comment. I agree that "Criminal policeman" exist (I arrested a couple when I worked in the Detectives) but not all are like that and most are doing the best they can fighting a difficult battle, with low pay, fewer benefits, lack of resources and the public turning against them.

Just an Ex Cops point of view.
Thanks

The actions of the police affect everyone in this country. I don't it's necessary to have served in the police to know that things are not exactly going right. These "criminal policemen" seem to be more and more common. Yes I'm sure a lot or maybe even the majority of cops are trying to do their best but the actions of these other ones are becoming increasingly disturbing. Unfortunately the actions of the criminal or just plain irresponsible cops reflect badly on all police members especially when it seems that a lot are getting away with it. Not mentioned in this article is the number of police officers arrested for involvement in farm killings and many other horrendous crimes. I suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg- few have been arrested and fewer convicted. You want the public to respect the police- but respect is a two-way street.

[2SAI Desert Rat]

SAP Helicopter Crash

It was a sad day on hearing about the chopper crash in Witbank, my condolences to all the family and friends.

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ity&Itemid=113

[Dwelm]

SAP Helicopter Crash

Rest In Peace

[flojo]

I dont know, but I find this disturbing.

"It was manufactured in 1983. .... "The aircraft underwent scheduled maintenance in June this year."

I know nothing about Helicopters. But a 27yr old helicopter in service, ( especially for this line of work ), was an accident waiting to happen. Dont you think?

[aclark79]

No. We have aircraft at work with well over 13,000 hours on them. By the time an aircraft reaches that age its had almost every system on it replaced at some point. If its properly maintained there is no reason it wouldn't be airworthy. Remember, there are still WWII aircraft flying around.