Captain Milanda Coetzer of the SAPS responded this week to a social media flurry in which photographs of a police vehicle illegally parked outside a Grahamstown shop were widely circulated.
Captain Milanda Coetzer of the SAPS responded this week to a social media flurry in which photographs of a police vehicle illegally parked outside a Grahamstown shop were widely circulated.
She urged members of the public to report such incidents immediately and directly to the police.
A clamp had been attached to the rear wheel of the vehicle, which stood in a disabled parking bay outside the Pick n Pay at Pepper Grove mall.
Security staff at the mall routinely use this method to immobilise illegally parked vehicles, whose owners then must pay a fine to have the clamp removed.
The area's crime intelligence officer, Coetzer is a SAPS representative on the Festival's Joint Operations Committee – the multi-pronged grouping tasked with managing public safety during the annual event.
She emphasised that the police are not above the law.
"SAPS vehicles are not allowed to park on disabled parking bays, just like any other drivers are not allowed except if they are disabled," Coetzer said.
"The Grahamstown community is once again invited to report any matter of this nature to the SAPS even if they feel that it should be posted on social media.
She said it was important for the police to be informed so they could address the matter immediately.
The Grahamstown Police can be reached at 046 603 9152.
During the National Arts Festival, there are five temporary reporting stations – Church Square, High Street, Village Green, Fiddlers Green and the Monument.
