LATEST UPDATE: Motorist who shot video lodges formal complaint while police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu said they “followed orders”
THE motorist who recorded Durban Metro police officers seated in their vehicle while beggars directed the heavy morning traffic in the rain, at the intersection of Rossburgh Training and Southway Mall, last Wednesday, has lodged a formal complaint.
In the video, you can hear the person recording saying: “Metro police sit in their vehicle while paras direct traffic. That's what this country has come to.”
Damien Anthony, of Queensburgh, said he had shot the video while he was on his way to work that morning.
He was stationary at the robots when he spotted the Metro police officers in their vehicle at the intersection of the Rossburgh Training and Southway mall leading to the M7.
Anthony said the traffic lights were not working and he was sitting in standstill traffic, watching the beggars attempt to do the job of officers.
“This was an injustice to us normal people. As a taxpayer I witnessed first hand my money being wasted on officers who did not do their job. They believe they are above us and too good to assist. They are supposed to serve the public and enforce laws on the road for our safety. Instead they relax in comfort.
“They are never there to help us. It is their duty to honour their badges, by doing their jobs,” said Anthony.
Metro police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu, said while they would investigate the matter, they believed the officers were just following protocol.
“The officers followed procedure. When it rains heavily, we are told not to compromise our lives by controlling traffic in unexpected situations. We could be knocked down. This is for the safety of our officers.
“There is a grey area in the complaint because what they did was not wrong. They followed orders and were correct to park at the robots and observe the traffic from their vehicle.
“However, we have noted the complaint and will investigate further,” said Zungu.
Visvin Reddy, the leader of African Democratic Change, who shared the video with his followers, in a bid to highlight the issue.
“It is clear there is no discipline within metro police. How can you sit in your vehicle and allow inexperienced beggars to control the traffic? It is your job, not anyone else's. They cannot allow those who are not trained to direct the traffic. It can lead to many issues if something happens," said Reddy.
He highlighted how this had become a norm in Durban when traffic lights did not work.
“It makes me angry that metro police officers are paid to do this job but instead of doing it, they prefer to sit and allow others to work just because they don't want to get wet. If they don’t want to do their job then they should give the opportunity to others who would like to become metro officers with dedication to serve society,” said Reddy.
He said he would raise the matter with the mayor and insisted that if civilians saw this happening, they should report the matter to the mayor's office or their councillors.