IPID: Motorists must report corrupt cops
2013-01-15 12:12
Johannesburg - Motorists were urged to come forward if police officers
sought bribes from them, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)
said on Tuesday.
"If they have complaints they can come with evidence - we will look
into their cases," IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini said.
Dlamini said motorists should report these incidents even if their cases
dated as back as 2011. This was after crime forum eBlockwatch told The Star on
Sunday it had been alerted to several incidents where police claimed to have
"found" dagga after stopping motorists.
A policeman was reportedly killed when a motorist raced away while two
policemen were searching an Audi R8 for drugs on Rivonia Road in Sandown, on
Thursday morning.
When they found a small amount of dagga, the driver apparently sped off with
the policeman still inside the car. The other officer gave chase in a police
van.
The Audi driver, Areff Haffejee, lost control and hit a tree, a wall and a
light pole. He and the officer in his car were killed.
Suspicion
According to The Star on Friday, an eyewitness rubbished police's reports
that Constable Goodman Lubisi, 31, was kidnapped by a drug dealer.
"I don't buy that story that this was a cop kidnapped by a drug dealer.
"I looked that guy [the policeman] in the eyes shortly before he died
and he was very relaxed in the passenger seat.
"He had his elbow resting out the window, his seat was rolled back a
bit and he was chilling," the witness, identified only as Sly, told the
newspaper.
He said it did not look like the police van was chasing the Audi. Its siren
and its blue lights were not switched on.
On Tuesday, Dlamini said the investigations into the crash had started.
"Investigations are still at [an] early stage," he said.
The IPID had however not yet received the docket regarding the incident.
He said IPID had started interviewing the eyewitnesses and were calling on
more witnesses to come forward.
- SAPA
