This morning it's all over the front pages. Claims and counter claims. Some light reading:
Winnie says she was sworn at:
IOL
Policeman relieved of service pistol:
News24
There's much here to stoke all manner of conspiracy theories, here are some of my favourite:
“The general said this was political and we should go and apologise and the case would go away,” said Odendaal. “I was prepared to apologise,
but then I was told General Mzwandile Petros said we should not go as we were just doing our jobs. We were told there would be no case opened against
us.”
...
But last week Odendaal was told he was being transferred to the Soweto flying squad, 140km from his home. His partner, who lives in Soweto, was
transferred to the East Rand. Odendaal said policemen were generally transferred if there were charges against them, but nobody had informed him of
any.
And the political responses:
Lorimer (DA) says in a statement that she is "extremely concerned" about the allegation that Petros would supposedly accompany the police officials to
Madikizela-Mandela. "If this is the case, what on earth gives him the impression that some people can break the law at will? He is supposed to
support his police officials because it seems they were simply doing their jobs, as he has ordered on many occasions."
...
Pieter Groenewald, FF+ MP and spokesperson for police, says in a statement that Madikizela-Mandela should "immediately" be arrested for defeating the
ends of justice.
Her behaviour furthermore testifies of a disregard for the law and creates the impression that she is above the law. Furthermore, her behaviour is an
embarrassment to other MPs.
His party also wants an investigation about Petros' role, because his integrity has now been called into question: "His behaviour amounts to special
treatment for Madikizela-Mandela.
The bigpig has ordered all police to stop suspicious vehicles, they stopped a suspicious vehicle, and now they must apologise for doing so, with the
bigpig accompanying them. Is it not blatantly obvious that this man ... "general" Petros is putting personal politics above his office? Is that alone
not reason to be relieved of duties? But it is the hardworking cops that are taking the fall for this.
edit on 13-1-2011 by harryhaller
because: (no reason given)
