The City of Cape Town has condemned the attack on its law enforcement officers. The latest incident occurred on Friday, when a taxi tried to evade a checkpoint in Sea Point. Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith said officers eventually stopped the vehicle, but the passengers and bystanders became unruly.
PICTURE: PixabayHe added that the
officers eventually managed to take the driver into custody on charges of
reckless and negligent driving, as well as a bystander who had made threats
against them, for obstruction of justice.
‘’The crowd tried to
surround the patrol car, banging on the vehicle, but officers were able to
leave the area, with the two suspects,’’ said JP Smith, Mayoral committee
member for Safety and Security.
The mayco member said
this is not the first incident of such nature. In recent months, groups stormed
police stations to free suspects, and helped armed suspects to get away, in
handcuffs.
'’What happened in Sea
Point is but the latest incident of our staff having to contend with bystanders
running interference. This is a trend that simply cannot be condoned. We cannot
be a society that decries the level of crime and violence, calling out for
increased and more effective enforcement, but then turn on those who are trying
to do that very job. It bears reminding that interfering with a peace officer
in the execution of their duties can have legal consequences, so I caution the
public to be mindful of inserting themselves into situations that have nothing
to do with them,'’ said JP Smith, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for
Safety and Security.
Done by: Esona Mfazwe // Edited by: Mitchum George
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