Public needs to see justice done

THE wheels of justice are known to move frustratingly slowly at times in our crime-weary nation – an issue over which law-abiding citizens are rightly aggrieved.

But it would appear that in the very corridors of our law enforcement corps, they can virtually grind to a halt.

That it took an entire year for a Nelson Mandela Bay police station commander to undergo a disciplinary hearing, which eventually led to his suspension for an unacceptable racist rant, boggles the mind.

The incident at the Willows resort, where an off-duty Colonel Jakob Flemmer was involved in hurling abuse at a security guard who simply asked for music to be turned down, is the worst possible advertisement for a force that often battles with its image.

After Flemmer’s own subordinates had to embarrassingly deal with his repugnant behaviour, action against him should have been swift and appropriate.

Instead the man who was the target of his tirade had to attend numerous sessions in the punitive process over the course of 12 months to finally see sanction delivered.

And we would question whether a one-month suspension without pay is indeed congruous.

At the same time, another senior officer at the same station is under investigation for a string of charges including rape and sexual assault – but he continues to work.

These officers have every right to due process and presumption of innocence until proven otherwise – but surely, given their position, we need to see how seriously management views the allegations against those who should be leading by example.

While police bosses say members are constantly reminded of their code of conduct which requires integrity and professionalism, they may well remind themselves that the same must surely be demanded of the way even their top cops are managed.