An internal SAPS disciplinary investigation has been initiated following a complaint lodged against a 10111 operator, who allegedly ended a call made by a witness to the Du Noon vigilante attack on Sunday, which saw four people set alight.
Officers were called out to the N7 off-ramp on Maibongwe Drive on Sunday afternoon, where they discovered the burnt remains of the four victims on an open field in the area. They were found a few metres apart. The motive for the killings is under investigation.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, DA MP Ian Cameron, says a father driving with his children in the area on Sunday witnessed people being tied up, beaten and pushed towards a fire near the Dunoon off-ramp.
They immediately called 10111 and gave the operator as much location information as possible using GPS.
But Cameron says instead of helping to locate the scene and dispatching police, the operator allegedly demanded an exact address and eventually ended the call.
The four burnt bodies were later found.
“The children did not only witness something deeply traumatic. They were also confronted with the frightening reality that, in an emergency, the system meant to help them may simply fail.”
Cameron says the father laid a complaint directly with the Minister of Police, following the incident. He says the call has since been reviewed, its handling reportedly found unacceptable and disciplinary action has been initiated.
“Nicholas Gotsell MP and I have visited the 10111 centre several times. The infrastructure is ageing, some technology is unreliable or not operational, and staff work under difficult conditions. Morale is a real problem. But none of this excuses failing someone who is reporting an immediate threat to life.”
He says Parliament has previously recorded a dropped or abandoned call rate of 26.44% at 10111 centres. Cameron says the whole service needs to be rebuilt with modern technology, live-location capability, proper staffing, training, backup power and real accountability.
“If someone can order food or request a lift using their live location, surely our national police emergency service should be able to find people being murdered next to a major highway. 10111 must help callers locate an emergency, not look for reasons to reject the call.”
Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that the matter is the subject of an internal SAPS disciplinary investigation initiated by the management of the Maitland call centre upon being alerted by the complainant.
“SAPS views the complaint in a serious light; hence every endeavour is made to ensure the investigation gets to the bottom of the complaint raised. Upon finalisation of the internal investigation, the outcome will be made known.”
