Picture the scene: A mom and her two small children are at a police station reporting an assault. The mom turns to her children and tells them they can always go to their nearest Police Station if they are scared and need help. The Police Officers are very nice people and they will protect you.
This is the kids’ first trip to a Police Station! They are very excited…
Then, all hell breaks loose! In come four Police Officers dragging one withered old guy. He looks pretty beat up! He can barely walk. He falls to the floor. Trying to get up, he has to protect his face from being bashed by the four officers. He gets up and is hit to the ground again. So this viscous circle continues. Like a pack of drooling hyenas on top of a baby gazelle, they beat him, swear at him.
The two kids hide behind their mom, who herself is fearful, clinging on to her for dear life and closing their ears so they don’t hear the man’s cries. They are petrified.
After about half an hour one of the female officers looked over to, for the first time, see if there are any witnesses to this and looks the mom in the eyes. She gave her a grin, turned away and told the officers to continue “interrogating” the man in the cell.
What the hell?! After this experience her children will never want to sit foot in a Police Station again.
How will this make them think they will be safe in the company of Police Officers?
Not only this, reading in Beeld today, 25/01, the CCTV material caught on officers assaulting a father of two. IN FRONT OF HIS CHILDREN!
I’m sure there are thousands of incidences out there with a similar story.
South Africans have become fearful of their ‘Protectors’. Who do they call when they need to be defended? How will they know if they are pulled over by an officer, they won’t be raped and murdered? Oh, and the Police stood by and watch someone break into your house and even helped carry the stolen goods to the intruders car! Officer: you took an oath to Protect and Serve. Forgot about that?
What has become of the South African Police Service? Some of them don’t provide any kind of service except for scaring children.
Something has to be done and soon.
For those Officers who are our Genuine Protectors, you know who you are, Thank you for what you do! Without your service we would be in one hell of a mess!
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