Grassy Park cops have been given until Monday to respond to claims made by Parkwood residents who have signed a petition calling for a “vote of no confidence” in the station’s management team.
This follows a march held on Sunday where about 150 residents were joined by Mayor Dan Plato, G@tvol Capetonian, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) and other community organisations about the alleged lack of policing in Parkwood.
The march, arranged by Pastor Paul Philips, was a call for residents to unite to fight the scourge of crime and tackle Grassy Park Station commander, Colonel Dawood Laing.
The protesters, holding placards that read “Enough is enough”, gathered at Abdullah Moosa Walk and marched along Parkwood Avenue.
MESSAGE: Plea from a little boy. Picture: Monique Duval
Philips says residents were gatvol of “poor service delivery” from police after an alleged rapist was stoned in the area.
“Just last week people stoned a man. The people don’t feel safe and there is poor service delivery from the police,” he said.
“This march today is for cohesion and for people to sign the petition calling for a vote of no confidence in the station commander and the entire management team.
“The one day they make arrests and the next day they (the suspects) are out so the arrests are not genuine.”
But Laing, who is attending a course in Paarl, drove to Parkwood on Sunday to rek his bek about the recent attacks on police and to respond to Philips.
“There are a lot of allegations being made about poor service from SAPS. But in the last three months, there have been seven attacks with firearms on my members,” he said.
HOT SEAT: Grassy Park SAPS' Dawood Laing. Picture: Monique Duval
“When members want to arrest suspects in Parkwood, stones are thrown at them.
“We have 12 incidents of public violence where members were attacked and then you say police are not rendering a service.
“How can my members be shot at or thrown with stones if they are not in the community?”
Laing agreed with residents that there were “rotten apples” at the station, but says residents do not make statements so the officers cannot be tackled.
Parkwood mense marched against 'slapgat' police. Picture: Monique Duval
Instead he says he has opened seven dockets with the Anti-Corruption Unit against his own police officers.
Philips says residents are expected to meet again in Abdullah Moosa Walk tonight.