'Co-operate or face arrest'
2006-07-26 20:40
Riot Hlatshwayo
Middelburg - Farmers who turn away black policemen risk arrest, warned superintendent Botsotso Moukangwe on Wednesday.
He is head of the Mpumalanga police's serious and violent crime unit
He said that black police officers were chased away from two crime scenes last week.
"White farmers chased away black officers when they went to investigate crimes on farms in Marble Hall and Volksrust, saying they wanted white investigators," said Moukangwe.
"This destroys the morale of the black officers."
He said farmers should work with all policemen, irrespective of colour, in the fight against crime.
He warned that anyone who turned away a black policeman would be arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice.
More than five farm attacks were reported in Mpumalanga's Highveld and Eastern Highveld areas in the past month.
Worker drowned in a dam
The attacks took place in Carolina, Bethal, Witbank, Secunda, Standerton, Machadodorp and Middelburg.
Black officers were also allegedly chased from a farm in Nelspruit, in the Lowveld, where a woman farm worker had drowned in a dam.
The office of provincial police commissioner Afrika Khumalo is investigating the incident.
Safety and security MEC Dina Pule and the Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised the incident.
"It's regrettable that this type of incident still happens 12 years after the first democratic elections in the country.
Mpumalanga DA leader Clive Hatch said: "The DA would like to urge all concerned to work together in establishing the rule of law."
ANC condemns the incidents
The African National Congress in Mpumalanga also has condemned the incidents.
Provincial ANC spokesperson Paul Mbenyane said: "It is really hard for us to believe that we still have this type of behaviour long after apartheid died."
He said the organisation condemned any criminal activities that occurred on farms, whether against farmers or workers.
"We call on farmers' unions to convince the farmers to give police an opportunity to do their work and protect farmers and workers alike," said Mbenyane.
- African Eye