National police commissioner Fannie Masemola. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola needs to familiarise himself with Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare’s scathing judgment which captures the essence of why public trust in the police service is fractured.
If Masemola has not already done so, that judgment will shed light on how some police officers are deep into the pockets of gangs who are terrorising communities.
Judge Thulare’s words may trigger a different approach in how police interact with communities.
On trial were Gupta gang leaders Gcinithemba Beja and Fundile Maseti in Khayelitsha who were convicted and sentenced to seven life terms each for murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm and one unlawful possession of ammunition.
In part, the judgment states: “They (Beja and Maseti) made sure that the community lived in fear.
After the shooting, accused 2 came back not only to be an onlooker, but he observed who of the community members was talking to the police and in fact jumped the tape barricade to where one community member was talking to the police to monitor what was being said to the police.
“Not only was Mr X (State witness) intimidated by the accused. There were members of the police who he knew as close to the Guptas, who asked him why he was at the police station and also told him that he liked being at the police station. Mr X was hounded even when he was in police protection.
He had to be re-routed when the destination to a safe place became known to the Gupta gang, of which the accused were members.
The Guptas worked with some police officers and had an established network in their rule by the bullet through gangsterism, forceful demand for ‘protection fees’ and extortion.”
The answer to Masemola’s worry of the underreporting of extortion-related crimes in the Mthatha area lies here.
If only 38 cases were open throughout the extortion hotline, which does not reflect the extent of the problem that has been reported, then we have a bigger problem.
It’s evident that trust between the police and communities is at its lowest. That indeed should give Masemola, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and President Cyril Ramaphosa sleepless nights.
Cape Times
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