Police illegally park on disabled parking spot
Police came to criticism for acting above the law and parking in disabled parking bays. Outraged shoppers snapped photos of the incident and put them up on social media platforms including Facebook to show their disregard for this act.
The police parked the police vehicles there even though the parking bays have clear signboards warning motorists they were only meant for the disabled.
The police then got into a brawl with the unhappy citizens. One lady witnessed everything and said she was on the second floor of the building when she heard people shouting.
“I peered down and saw the cop van in the disabled parking. A lady, who was not disabled, parked them in to show that it was wrong. Two policewomen came out of the shop and started shouting at her. I heard the one cop say to a man ‘How do you know my brother or sister isn’t disabled?’”
The social media posts drew the attention of thousands of people who responded in different ways.
Some people heaped praise on the driver who blocked the police in. Others hurled cynical remarks at the policewomen.
Some pondered why they were using a State vehicle to shop. Others said their wheels should have been clamped.
However, to make matters worse another photograph was snapped of a police officer parking on a disabled parking spot with a police-marked minivan. The man commented that the police officer climbed out of the car to get the beacons out of the way for the minivan to proceed into the parking spot.
This also attracted negative feedback from angry citizens on social media.
Police spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said they condemned irresponsible and inconsiderate conduct by the police officers.
“We embrace the rights of disabled persons and infringement of their rights as alleged cannot be tolerated. We will investigate these serious allegations of misconduct. We wish to unconditionally express our apology to the citizens affected and reiterate that such alleged conduct is in breach of police code of conduct.
“The public is encouraged to bring to the attention of the management any similar unacceptable conduct by the members of the SAPS for corrective and disciplinary measures to be instituted,” Naicker said.
(Image : IOL Motoring)