The Makhado SAPS said this week that the reference to its ‘outraged commander’ in an article in last week’s Zoutpansberger was drawn out of context.

The article highlighted the conduct of the local police commander, Col Francois Ramovha, towards two members of the public, following an accident in Krogh Street.

“Your indication around the so-called ‘outraged Commander’ was drawn out of context, because whilst the two parties called at the Station Commander’s Office, the attitude as portrayed in your newspaper lacks substance,” was the response from local police spokesperson Capt Maano Sadike in ‘n media statement.

The statement refers to the incident where two motorists collided in Krogh Street, an accident apparently caused by an illegally parked police vehicle.  When those involved met with Col Ramovha, they were allegedly treated by him in an aggressive way.

Sadike said that any person who was not satisfied with the service or conduct of any SAPS member, even the commander, was at liberty to raise the concern. “In this case, the complainant chose to come through the media, which is his right as well. Had he had the guts to raise this matter accordingly, he would have been clarified,” Sadike said.

According to Sadike, the two motorists involved gave different contexts, but this would not detract the police from doing their normal duties.

“The indication given to you by driver A and driver B differs, because as the two parties were in the station commander’s office, discussing the matter, driver A, the complainant in this case, suddenly stood up, blaming the police and left immediately,” reads the statement.

Regarding the accident, Sadike states that “the accident or collision was not caused by the police or the commander. This office cannot pre-empt the cause as the matter could be prejudiced and in this regard, investigations are underway.”

Following the accident on 31 July, one of the motorists took a picture of a police vehicle parked on a loading zone, allegedly obscuring the view of the motorist turning into Krogh Street, and sent it to the Zoutpansberger. Regarding the photo caption, Sadike says that it was “incorrect and misleading the public to say parked ‘illegally on a loading zone' because the police was offloading a fridge as part of an exhibit, meant to be registered in the Community Service Centre.” Sadike says that the vehicle was parked just for a while “and you never bothered to enquire from the relevant authority after taking the picture.”

The SAPS Makhado share parking with other departments and businesses. “The inconvenience cannot be blamed entirely on the police or commander because it is normal that they will park vehicles next to the police station,” reads the statement. Sadike says that members of the public who call at the police station need to acknowledge that the police will always share the parking space surrounding the police station.

Sadike makes it clear that the SAPS can never condone illegal parking or reckless driving by members of the SAPS, irrespective of the rank they hold. “Police are not above the law and are custodians in respect thereof. Each time the issue of misbehaviour in terms of parking or driving was raised, members were sensitized by the Station Commander and management in a very vocal way that whoever does that puts his behaviour or discipline at risk,” reads the statement.