| 2024/10/04 |
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Media Statement
DURBAN – Police in KwaZulu-Natal have noted with concern media reports claiming that a police constable who was arrested in Cato Manor on Friday morning, 4 October 2024 is linked with the hijacking incident which left an 11-yer-old girl dead in Malvern last month. Although it is true that a police constable has been arrested, police wish to set the record straight that the officer is not linked to the hijacking nor the murder. The constable was arrested after he was found in possession of a bank card which belongs to the owner of the vehicle which was hijacked during the incident in question. At the time of the hijacking incident in the Malvern area, the arrested police constable was on duty in the Cato Manor policing precinct where he is stationed. When the hijacked vehicle was recovered in the Cato Manor area, the same constable was called upon to drive the vehicle to the Malvern. It was during that time that the constable got hold of the bank card and stole it. As such, the officer will be charged with theft and fraud for using the card and he will appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 7 October 2024. Journalists are encouraged to verify the facts with the police before publishing. As much as police respect that journalists have deadlines and also the desire to break stories, it is also important to report factually and truthfully to avoid raising false hope to the family of the victim that a breakthrough has been made in the case. Police can only communicate facts, and at times the sourcing of such facts may take a little bit longer than envisaged due to the nature of the work. Investigative matters will require updates from investigating officers who might be at court by the time of the enquiry, leading to a slight delay in providing timeous responses. The same goes for active crime scenes, police can only communicate when facts have been collected and verified. The arrested police officer will also face internal disciplinary process proportional to the crimes he has been charged with. Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService |
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