Officers 'didn't test Roux's blood alcohol'

Officers 'didn't test Roux's blood alcohol'

4 September 2010, 09:43
Controversial Blue Bulls prop Bees Roux appears almost certain to walk away scot free from any drunken driving conviction.

Despite numerous reports, starting with the Pretoria News Weekend's own exclusive last Saturday, that the rugby player had been pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol before he was seen beating a Tshwane metro police sergeant to death early last Friday morning, the department never had him tested.

Yesterday a highly placed source in the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) admitted exclusively to Pretoria News Weekend that the department had fatally erred.

"Officers had more than enough time to test Roux's blood alcohol levels and follow standard police procedure. They did not. They were caught up in their anger," he said.

That anger was illustrated on Thursday when executive director of policing in the Tshwane municipality, Ndumiso Jaca, told a memorial service for Sergeant Johannes Mogale that he "did not care" if the officers were corrupt. He called on Mogale's ancestors and those of all former TMPD officers to haunt Roux until the rugby player confessed to what he had done.

The TMPD was inundated by Pretoria residents yesterday wanting to lay intimidation charges against Jaca for his utterances, the source said.

Speaking at Mogale's memorial service, Jaca said Roux "would not rest".

"Let's call on the fallen members of the department to go and man the roadblocks and ensure Bees doesn't rest. Let's call on our ancestors, let's ensure we hound Bees until he tells the truth," he shouted. "Bees is a monster, he is a beast murdering my member with his own hands. He's huge, he's a monster," said Jaca.

The DA in the Tshwane Metro Council lashed out at Jaca, saying his comments were "irresponsible and unconstitutional", and that he had appointed himself as "policeman, judge and executioner".

Party spokeswoman on community safety Karin Meyer said: "Director Jaca is an official who is supposed to render and ensure an impartial service to all residents of Tshwane and his remarks contradict this ethos. These remarks are totally out of place and definitely outside his mandate. It is, to say the least, counter-productive to the legal process and not in the spirit of an independent judicial investigation.

"The DA demands an immediate explanation and apology from Director Jaca."

Dikeledi Lehobye, member of the mayoral committee for community safety in the City of Tshwane, said the language used at the memorial service had been "unfortunate".

"What needs to be understood is that there has been a lot of hurt within the department over how Sergeant Mogale was killed. His death has badly affected not only junior officers, but the management of the department too."

She said anyone who was disturbed by what Jaca had said had to put themselves in the shoes of those who had worked with Mogale and the pain that they felt at how he died. "What is of serious concern to us is that we did not receive any messages of support from those who are now criticising us. There definitely needs to be a balance, in the same way that the Blue Bulls are dealing with the matter. And we commend them for that.

"As a leader of the department, I will take it upon myself to talk to all the officers to lower their tempers so that there is no room from diverting the fact that it is us who feel the pain. It is the suspect who must go on trial, not the department," Lehobye said.

Roux, who is out on bail of R100 000 for allegedly beating Mogale to death, and his defence team have claimed that the rugby player was not tested for driving under the influence of alcohol and that he acted out of self-defence.

Pretoria News Weekend reported last week how eyewitness Richard Motenegi had heard Roux shouting at Mogale, as he beat his head into the road surface, accusing him of trying to steal his car.

On Monday, it emerged that Roux's credit card was used at a McDonald's fast food outlet after he had already been arrested.

His lawyer, Rudi Krause, claimed in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court that Roux's credit card was used at a McDonald's restaurant on Friday at 02:31 - between 30 minutes and an hour after Mogale was assaulted.

According to the source, the two officers who had been on duty with Mogale last Friday have been placed on compassionate leave. They are due to be questioned by metro investigators when they return to work on Monday.

The source added that it did not help the TMPD that a senior member of the department had stood up and publicly stated that he did not care about corruption. "What does that say to the public? We are being crucified. It is unfortunate that this is how it is has turned out. If (Roux) walks, it will be our own doing," the source said.

Mogale will be buried today in Shakung, just outside Mabopane.



This article was originally published on page 1 of The Pretoria News on September 04, 2010

Saturday Star

Comments by Sonny

Let's hope the 'ancestors' are not as corrupt as "director of policing in the Tshwane

municipality, Ndumiso Jaca!"

This whole affair stinks of corruption, deceit and criminal activity!!

Which mayor employed these "Gooks?"

Is this where our hard earned money is going?