South African police

By Rosie Garthwaite in Africa on August 2nd, 2010

Out last night meeting new friends with familiar tales to tell of police corruption.

Over the last year or so both of them have been asked by policemen to drive to an ATM in order to pay their way out of a breathalyser test and a potential night in jail.

Neither of them ended up paying a bribe; once the request had been made they screamed and shouted about it until the police officer went away. And on they drove.
 
Every day there is a new headline about criminality within the police here.

The Sowetan newspaper seems to be leading the way with investigations. Today it's the story of a businessman, Herbert Mandlbaur, who sued the Hillbrow police station for $21,000 after he was wrongfully arrested.
 
Mandlbaur says he was personally harassed by the acting commissioner for the station, Koos van Rhyn.

By Haru Mutasa in Africa on January 24th, 2010
Photo by Getty Images

A London-based security clothing company has been lambasted by the South African government and some South Africans for marketing a "stab-proof vest" for football fans planning to visit the World Cup in June this year.

The idea is that tourists order one of these vests online and it is delivered to their hotel room once they get to South Africa. They then wear them to the stadiums or even walking on the streets – just in case something happens to them.

According to South African police figures, there were 18,148 murders in the year ending March 2009 and knives or sharp objects were used in about 52 percent of the deaths. No wonder foreigners are so edgy about crime in South Africa.

Criminal controversy

Back home here, the issue of crime again reared its ugly head. Here’s a brief synopsis of the furore that’s causing waves in SA.

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