Policing in the New South Africa

The sad decline of South Africa from a First to a Third World nation continues.

Nothing is driving that change quite like the incompetence and corruption found in South Africa's police force, as the following two stories demonstrate.

Here is the first, from The Herald:

TRAFFIC officers yesterday brazenly defied orders from superiors not to wear uniforms and drive official vehicles to a memorial service for the Nelson Mandela Bay traffic officer shot dead after allegedly being involved in an armed robbery at the weekend.

Mhlophe Menye died in a shoot-out after a high-speed chase following a robbery at the Metlife Plaza Wimpy Bar in Kabega Park, Port Elizabeth.

Traffic Department vehicles almost filled the parking area outside the Nangoza Jebe Hall.

A large group of uniformed officers gathered inside the hall where the service for Menye was held.

The programme for service showed the emblems of the Traffic Department and the municipality printed on the back.

The DA condemned the traffic officers’ action and the municipality has vowed to “investigate the matter and take necessary action”. DA caucus chairman Gustav Rautenbach, chairman of the safety and security portfolio committee, said the action would “tarnish the image, divide traffic officers in the metro and undermine law enforcement”.

“Its sends a negative signal to the public that all traffic officers are not to be trusted,” he said.

Departmental spokesman Luncedo Njezula said: “It is up to the director to investigate the issues around the memorial service and to take the necessary action.”

He said management opposed the use of official vehicles and the wearing of uniforms at the service.

“Management felt that given the circumstances surrounding his death it would not be wise to do so,” he said.

However he said the department had no knowledge of the insertion of municipal emblems into the programmes.

The service was addressed by colleagues who are also officials of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).

Menye was presented as a hero and praised for his “courage in fighting for the rights of workers”.

Union official Ginger Nangu said traffic officers like Menye, who “had guts to challenge the undermining of rights of workers”, were needed.

Menye’s supervisor, Mbulelo Ngwenze, was more candid, describing him as “troublesome”, “defiant” and “not easy to deal with”, but that he had carried out his duties diligently.

A union officials said the Menye issue had divided traffic officers. Those who were critical of the circumstances surrounding his death chose to boycott the service.

Menye‘s wife, children and other relatives were among those who attended the memorial service.

I often criticise the current state of Britain, but this story is simply surreal. A serving police officer being involved in an armed robbery is bad enough - but his colleagues attending his funeral in uniforms and marked vehicles, before declaring the man a hero?

That should quite simply be beyond belief. No wonder crime is soaring in South Africa if criminals and policeman perceive they are on the same side.

Here is the second story, from Africa News:

One of South Africa's police stations has been turned into a gun shop where weapons are being sold to criminals. The administrative clerk from Alexandra police station, Aubrey Tshamana, is before court for allegedly selling six R-5 rifles and 16 handguns for officers and the Sandton police station.

Detectives from the Johannesburg Organised Crime Unit are investigating whether the weapons could have been part of those used in the recent spate of violent robberies at some shopping malls. Tshamana, 26, appeared at the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. His case has been postponed to next week and he will be kept at high-risk holding cells.

The guns have not been recovered and it is believed they could have been sold for as little as R3 500 ($440.817) for a rifle and R1 000 ($125.716) for a handgun.

AfricaNews reporter said Tshamana could be charged with more serious crimes if any of the guns he allegedly stole are linked to armed robberies at malls.

Increasingly, gun licences are hard for civilians to get hold of in South Africa, and thus formerly legal weapons have to be handed in to the police.

Are the public, including vulnerable groups like white farmers, being systematically disarmed simply so the police can sell the guns to criminals?

The circular insanity simply beggars belief - or should.