A Disgruntled Joza resident is accusing two Grahamstown police officers of misleading her into not pressing charges against a motorist who collided into her car last week.
A Disgruntled Joza resident is accusing two Grahamstown police officers of misleading her into not pressing charges against a motorist who collided into her car last week.
May Moya said the incident occured in Albany Road on Saturday night. She told Grocott’s Mail that she had parked her car on the pavement in front of her friend’s house when she heard a bang outside. “I rushed to see what had happened.
I could not believe that someone had crashed into my car. I spoke to him and he agreed to pay for the damages but I said we should call the police.
When the police arrived they said we should go to the police station, I asked them to call a traffic officer but they told me that traffic officers do not go to accident scenes after hours because they are not paid overtime.”
Moya said when she and the driver reached the police station she requested the police to perform a breathalyser test on him.
“The police told me that they did not have breathalysers and that it was futile for us to call traffic officers because they will not come.
They said I could not press charges against that guy if he was going to pay for the damage on my car.” She alleges that the car was unroadworthy and that the license disc had expired.
“He walked away Scott-free even though he was breaking the law!” Moya exclaimed. When approached for comment Grahamstown Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Sherolene Williams said Moya was not interested in laying charges.
“Two police officials attended to the scene and did indeed explain to the complainant what the procedure was and she understood but still wanted to settle the matter out of court.”
Regarding Moya’s claim that the police said the station did not have a breathalyser, Williams said: “The issue about the breathalyser was also explained to her as the police station does not have it.
According to the members who attended the scene the driver of the other vehicle was not drunk.” She added that due procedure was followed and the department is satisfied with their work.
“The community must realise that the police cannot force any person to press charges but certain procedures need to be followed,” she said.
