Protection order ‘just piece of paper’
Woman says police officers ate boerewors rolls with her abuser
‘THE protection order is just a piece of paper, it offers no protection,” said a woman who opened a number of cases with police against an abusive ex-husband which went unanswered.
On International Women’s Day, the woman, who chose to remain anonymous to protect her daughter, said she got a protection order against her ex-husband, and went to the Kirstenhof police station to complain that he broke the protection order after another incident. Two police officers went to his house, but instead of arresting him, they sat down with him eating boerewors rolls. Photographs of the officers sharing boerewors rolls were shared on her ex -husband Christopher Pool’s Facebook account along with a caption that read: “When someone makes bulls*** complaints to the police and they end up staying for boerie rolls.”
After being alerted to the Facebook posts, Western Cape police communications spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana confirmed that a case was opened against Pool and said he was arrested and a disciplinary case started against the police members implicated in the photographs.
“The accused was arrested and is being detained and he will be charged and appear tomorrow at Wynberg Magistrate’s Court. All cases against the accused will run together and the investigating officer will oppose bail.
“A disciplinary file has been opened against the members involved and will be investigated by the station commander. All domestic violence cases are treated with the utmost seriousness and any misconduct by the members will not be tolerated,” said Rwexana.
The Tokai mother said that the officers were aware of previous cases of abuse she opened against Pool and the preliminary protection order in her possession, yet they constantly fobbed off her requests for assistance.
“They (SAPS) looked at the protection order. I told them there are a few other cases against him and they said they’ll go to speak to him. I told them speaking to him doesn’t help, I want him arrested because he is just going to keep coming back tonight.
“And then an hour or two later, a friend sent me that picture he put on Facebook. Every time I see him he threatens to kill me. Every time I called the police they say they will give him a warning. How is that going to protect me,” she said.
The women said she initially got the protection order because her ex husband threatened to kill herself and her daughter after she decided to leave him last year. She said his physical abuse and refusal to quit his drug addiction is what brought about their separation.
“He is a drug addict, he suffered from addiction for many years.
“It (the abuse) just got worse. I constantly had cuts and bruises and it was emotional abuse as well. It got to a point and I said I can’t do it anymore and I packed my things. When the truck came to fetch our things, he threatened to shoot me and my daughter.”
Women’s Legal Centre (WLC) attorney Harsha Gihwala said the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act meant to protect women in abusive relationships was problematic. “There are shortfalls in the manner in which SAPS and other government departments deal with domestic violence and as such the legislative protections are not always as effective as they should be.”
Gihwala said society still suffered from a patriarchal attitude which saw domestic violence as a private matter that should be dealt with by the family. It was therefore not treated as seriously as it should be.
‘WHEN THE TRUCK CAME TO FETCH OUR STUFF HE THREATENED TO SHOOT ME AND MY DAUGHTER’