I rischi per i turisti

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Created on Friday, 12 August 2011 08:54

Martedì, 25 Luglio 2006

Caro direttore,
ho letto le vostre precauzioni per la sicurezza nel vostro paese sul vostro sito. Ma le notizie sono aggiornate o la situazione è migliorata per i furti ed aggressioni?

Grazie.

Valentino

Il direttore risponde

Caro Valentino, il giornale di stamattina a Città del Capo era reclamizzato dalle locandine che proclamavano a ogni angolo di strada e da ogni palo della luce: “Una città controllata da

poliziotti corrotti”. Purtroppo i problemi sono molti e complessi in questo paese e quindi non posso dirti che le cose sono migliorate. Ovviamente ci sono luoghi e situazioni meno drammatici di questi, ma resta il fatto che i turisti sono particolarmente a rischio perché non conoscono il paese e non possono rendersi conto da soli dei pericoli che possono incontrare in un determinato luogo e in una determinata situazione.

La città di cui parlava il giornale non è Cape Town, ma fa parte della stessa area metropolitana, cioè della “UniCity” del Capo e si trova a una quarantina di chilometri dal capoluogo. E purtroppo questo non è un caso unico in Sud Africa. Le cose sicuramente miglioreranno in futuro, ma per il momento occorre conoscere bene il paese per potersi muovere senza correre il rischio di capitare in un’area dove il pericolo maggiore è rappresentato dalla polizia. Il che non toglie che il Sud Africa sia un paese meraviglioso e altamente godibile anche dai turisti. Ciao.

Ciro Migliore

Qui di seguito l’articolo del “Cape Times” in inglese.

A town run by rogue police July 25, 2006
By Anél Powell

Metro Police chief Bongani Jonas has set a 48-hour deadline for an urgent report of all Metro Police activity in the Helderberg after reports that the area "is in total chaos" and being policed by civilians.
Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille met mayoral committee member for safety Dumisani Ximbi and J P Smith, head of the safety and security portfolio committee, yesterday about setting up a commission of inquiry.
This followed allegations, made at an informal meeting with the mayor and councillors at the weekend by worried people living in Gordon's Bay, Strand and Somerset West, that corruption and ineptitude were widespread in the Metro Police.
"I heard that the (Metro Police) office is closed, that vehicles are being used for every purpose and that there is a total lack of service accountability," Zille said.
She was also shocked to hear from residents that Metro Police officers routinely left the Gordon's Bay control office unmanned, did not answer telephone calls and used police property for private purposes.
Strand councillor Johannes Middleton said yesterday that he had called the Gordon's Bay Metro Police office immediately after the meeting on Friday night, but no one had answered. "That's how bad the situation is."
But Kevin Maxwell, director of communications for the Metro Police, said those who were disgruntled had failed to lodge complaints about corruption with the city force. "The first time we heard of the allegations was in the media."
Maxwell said the Metro Police would take "immediate action" to investigate the allegations. "We take this very seriously."
Barbara Louw, of the Gordon's Bay Village Action Group, said the situation had become considerably worse in the past three months.
"There is such corruption now in the Metro Police. There is no discipline and there are sometimes no police on duty."
Louw said she had evidence of police officers using patrol cars for private errands. She also had proof that officers had been selling meat from their Gordon's Bay office.
The lack of police discipline made Gordon's Bay and neighbouring areas a soft target for criminals, she said.
"We are the last outpost. If I were a criminal I would also come to Gordon's Bay. We have a very successful relationship with the SA Police Service."
Another source of concern was the Metro Police's alleged disregard for the midnight motorbike rallies held on the beach roads of Gordon's Bay.
"They have promised us road blocks, but nothing is being done."
Louw said it also appeared that officers on duty were often incompetent.
Her partner in Village Action, Gleneen Grundlingh, said she had warned Metro Police a day before the murder of Joy van Aarde and rape of her neighbour in May that crime was on the rise in Gordon's Bay.
Louw said the absence of visible patrols by Metro Police had led to a spike in drug dealing and abuse in the area.
Grundlingh said officers were being redeployed to the N2 or other areas, leaving Gordon's Bay wide open to criminal activity.
But despite this reshuffling of police to apparent hot spots, she said, there were only two patrol cars on the N2 instead of the 13 required.
Louw said the Metro Police in the area needed a satellite office on the beach to reduce their response time. They have their office on the mountainside. #
Ximbi's executive support officer, Bongani Maqungwane, declined to comment, saying the city would release a statement shortly.
Smith said the city would fast-track the re-establishment of the civilian oversight committee tasked with holding the Metro Police accountable. It was dissolved by the former ANC-led administration.
"I have had serious misgivings about the Metro Police and the way they have managed things."