By Everson Luhanga
Over 600 residents of Diepsloot gathered to apprehend four police officers on Sunday who they suspected of collecting bribes in the area.
The crowd of residents barricaded the street with heavy rocks and cornered the officers’ two vans, preventing them from fleeing until more police arrived.
The officers first drew suspicion when a community member noticed one of them hanging around suspiciously at a place where a man is known to sell alcohol without a permit. He was soon joined by a second officer.
The resident informed another person who is a member of a local community police forum (CPF). Together they monitored the officers, who they allege were there to collect bribes.
Later, a second van arrived and two more cops joined their colleagues.
The residents blew their whistle, a local siren used to call for the aid of fellow residents.
Within minutes the two vans were surrounded and prevented from leaving.
The community called for more back-up and soon the group grew even bigger. There were over 600 people who chanted struggle songs while blocking the officers’ escape.
As the community called for backup from residents, police officers also called for backup from their colleagues.
Speaking to Scrolla.Africa, a resident who asked not to be named for fear of being victimised said he was part of the group which stopped the officers.
The man said the police’s TRT Unit arrived, dispersed umphakathi – the residents – and allowed the two vans to leave the area.
As the police left the place, they were escorted by a crowd blowing whistles and voicing their anger at the men of law.
He said the community had had a meeting on Saturday with the police station management in which the commander stressed that residents should root out corrupt officers.
“The station commander told us that we should take photos and have concrete evidence when we find police officials involved in criminal activities.”
The police have taken statements from several people who claimed to have seen the officers taking bribes and alerted umphakathi.
After registering the case, a police van transported the triumphant-looking group back to where the scene took place. At the time of publication, the four officers have not been charged.
This year, residents in the township embarked on a series of protests that saw four of the Diepsloot Community Forum leaders being arrested.
The leaders were arrested on charges of public violence and damage to property amongst other charges. The case against the leaders is still in the Randburg Magistrate’s court. They were all granted bail.
Pictured above: A police van surrounded by angry Diepsloot residents.
Image source: Supplied
