‘COPS DRIVE THEIR GIRLFRIENDS AROUND IN VANS!’

ANGRY residents protested on Wednesday, saying cops allegedly refused to tend to their complaints about car theft and housebreaking.

Nobuhle Bango of Grahams-town’s extension 4 said: “When we call for help the cops say all their vans are out, but we see them driving their girlfriends around.”

She said the cops were given nine vans last year when then Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa opened the Joza Police Station.

Resident Buyiswa Venani (61) said she saw two young men breaking through her son’s back room window at 3am on Tuesday.

“I phoned the police but they said all their vans were out at the scene of a murder,” said Buyiswa.

“I phoned again but there was no answer. I was alone at home and didn’t have airtime to call my neighbours. My son’s TV was stolen and I couldn’t stop the robbers.”

She said last year she reported that her son was trying to hang himself, but the police told her they didn’t respond to such cases. In a heated meeting with angry residents, a cop said that if a case wasn’t urgent police dealt with it later due to the shortage of staff.

Captain Mali Govender said police hadn’t had any complaints and residents should report concerns to the station commander.

“If they aren’t satisfied with his response they should contact the cluster commander or provincial commissioner,” he said.