Shock at charges against 'Winnie cops'
2011-09-29 22:31
Johannesburg - The NPA's decision to bring criminal charges against two policemen who stopped Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's car was met with shock by the SA Police Union (Sapu) on Thursday.
"Sapu has learnt with shock and dismay [of] the so-called charges laid by the National Prosecuting Authority against two junior police officers who stopped... Madikizela-Mandela for a routine check towards the end of 2010," the union said in a statement.
Sapu would consult the state attorney to help Warrant Officer Jannie Odendaal and Constable Abel Twala, "who were performing their duty without fear or favour" at the time.
In December last year, the junior policemen stopped Madikizela-Mandela's car because it was reportedly being driven recklessly at 150km/h on a Johannesburg highway.
An argument between the officers and the occupants of the ANC MP's car followed. Her bodyguards brought charges of intimidation and pointing of a firearm against the policemen.
Sapu said the officers had done "absolutely nothing illegal".
"We are of the view that the NPA has been manipulated politically to lay these charges against these officers who were doing what is expected of them."
However, NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said: "I can categorically deny that."
He said the charges were laid based on an assessment of independent evidence.
"We always pursue prosecutions without favour or prejudice. There are no political motivations behind this decision," Mhaga said.
- SAPA
