Cops accused of being drunk

2003-11-02 21:56

Africa Ka Mahamba

Bushbuckridge - Winterveldt residents went on the rampage late on Saturday evening when police who had been called to the scene of a hit-and-run on Bushveld Road, reportedly arrived drunk.

The bystanders hurled stones, barricaded the road with burning tyres and stoned passing vehicles.

Eyewitness Maki Mabena said Nextweek Banda was hit by a car while trying to cross the road.

"We rushed to the police station to ask for help, but a drunk policeman at the charge office told us they had no service vehicle. When we told him there were two vans outside, he told us to fuck off.

"Banda lay on the side of the road for about four hours before they arrived. When we told them this, they laughed at us.

"This we could take, but when they laughed at the victim, it was too much," said Mabena.

Maria Mokwena backed up Mabena's claims.

"The police provoked us while the victim was lying helpless on the ground. We became angry and showed them that we are 'klipgooiers van gister'.

We still know how to make this country ungovernable if we are angry," said Mokwena.

The angry crowd was dispersed by police shooting live bird-shot. No one was injured.

About 20 minutes later they regrouped and marched to the station. They demanded that the doors be closed, because the charge office had become useless to the community.

Residents have threatened to boycott the upcoming election if government failed to address their needs.

Inspector Ephraim Rasile of the Loate charge office says 16 dockets of malicious damage to property, public violence and an attempted car hijacking have been opened.

- Daily Sun