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Crime on Selebi's doorstep
10/02/2007 22:27 - (SA)
Johannesburg - National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi lives with violent crime on his doorstep in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, but he is spared due to protection by armed guards, the Sunday Times reported.
The report said most people who live on Selebi's street in were victims of crime and residents lived in constant fear of attack.
Selebi, however, was protected by two armed guards.
Police statistics show that since 2001, when Selebi moved into the area, armed robberies reported to the nearest police station had doubled.
"Criminals have so little respect for police that they think nothing of committing crime right in front of Jackie Selebi. There's a constant police presence at his house as they change guards and drive up and down, but the criminals are blase; they don't care," said Selebi's neighbour Dave Smith.
His wife Ina said its no help having the protected police commissioner next door as his guards were "not interested" in other residents.
"...They get paid to protect him not to protect everybody else," she said.
Meanwhile, another report in the Sunday Times said at least seven armed robberies were reported in President Thabo Mbeki's neighbourhood, Arcadia in Pretoria, in one month.
Diplomatic missions had also not been spared from criminal attacks. The report said at least seven embassies have had staff and, in some cases, their main residence or offices attacked.
- SAPA
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