When Kabelo’s car was stolen outside of a sports stadium, he reported the incident to the police along with everything he knew. He thought that the police would investigate the case immediately because the longer they waited, the worse the chances of finding the stolen car would be. Two months have gone by, and it looks as if the police haven’t started investigating his case. He doesn’t know what the reason is. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Kabelo wants to know if there’s anything he can do about the situation.
Scorpion Legal Protection’s specialists advise.
Scorpion Legal Protection’s advice
Kabelo can lay a complaint at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Service Complaints Centre. The aim of the centre is to investigate any dissatisfaction with regard to the actions or inaction of the police. They help the community receive the best possible service and reduce complaints against the police. They handle a wide variety of complaints – from poor service delivery regarding communication, response, investigations, police negligence and police misconduct to complaints against the SAPS management or members and general complaints.
Each complaint must include:
- The full names and surname of the complainant
- Their ID number
- Their residential/business address
- Telephone and cell phone numbers and email address
- A description of the complaint, including the province in which the complaint originated, the name of the police station, the case number (if applicable), details of the SAPS employees involved, etc.
You can submit a complaint directly by visiting your local police station or send your complaint to the National Service Complaints Call Centre on 0800 333 177, fax to 012 393 5452 or email complaintsnodalpoint@saps.gov.za
Tips:
- Give as accurate a description of the case and your complaint as possible.
- Identify the specific officials, if there are any, that you want to lay a complaint against. Remember that police officials attached to the detectives in the South African Police Service work in normal private clothes and do not wear name tags.
If you have a query, follow us on our Facebook page and ask your question during our next Live Q&A (every first Thursday of the month).
* This is only basic advice and cannot be relied on solely. Names and story are fictional.