A plaintiff who felt utterly disrespected posted footage showing how police officers at the Laudium precinct laughed at him when he vented his frustration with the poor service he received.
Watch: Laudium police seen laughing at plaintiff
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The gentleman, whose identity remains unknown, turned to the power of social media as his last resort, after his second attempt at opening a case was met with ridicule by Laudium police.
While details about the incident were scarce when this article was published, the conduct police officers displayed was concerning, to say the least.
The man, clearly vexed, accused the officers of lounging around and laughing at him for trying to file a criminal complaint.
The officers bizarrely taunted the man instead of de-escalating the situation.
In fact, officers were caught on camera lazing around, visibly indifferent toward the man’s frustration.
Here’s footage of the confrontation:
How to report SAPS officer misconduct
In South Africa, police officers take an oath of office that includes a commitment to uphold the law, protect the public, and serve their community with integrity and diligence.
Suppose officers at a police station are lazing around, ridiculing a person seeking to file a criminal complaint, and failing to provide the necessary assistance.
In that case, they are indeed defying their oath. Here are the relevant points:
Police officer’s oath in South Africa
The oath taken by South African police officers generally includes pledges to:
- Uphold and enforce the law.
- Protect the public and maintain public order.
- Serve the community with integrity, fairness, and diligence.
- Act in a manner that promotes trust and respect from the community.
Conduct and responsibilities
- Professionalism: Police officers are expected to conduct themselves professionally, treating all members of the public with respect and dignity.
- Assistance and Protection: Officers have a duty to assist members of the public, especially those seeking help or wanting to file a criminal complaint.
- Accountability: Officers are accountable for their actions and are expected to follow the rules and guidelines set forth by their department and the law.
Defying the oath
When officers neglect their duties by:
- Failing to provide assistance,
- Ridiculing a person seeking help,
- Lazing around instead of performing their duties,
they are clearly defying the principles and commitments outlined in their oath. Such behaviour undermines public trust and the integrity of the police force.
Reporting misconduct
If you experience such treatment, you can take the following steps:
- Request to Speak to a Senior Officer: Ask to speak to a supervising officer or the station commander to report the misconduct.
- File a Formal Complaint: You can file a formal complaint against the officers involved. This can be done at the police station or through the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
- The IPID is an independent body that investigates complaints of misconduct against police officers in South Africa.
- Complaints can be lodged online, by phone, or in person at an IPID office.
