Your report on four traffic police officers arrested for taking bribes using a barber (NewsDay, September 25) made very interesting reading. It really shows that the Police Internal Security is doing its job and it was a result of a public tip-off, which is very good. It also shows the seriousness of the police in trying to root out corruption in the police force.
Alexio Rashirai,Our Reader
I want to note South African police are worse than our force here. I have never read of South African police arrested for corruption.
The high-profile South African arrests were those of officers who killed a Mozambican by dragging him behind their vehicle, not for corruption.
I have just returned from South Africa and the police openly demand bribes.
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On the South African side, the bus crew asked those without passports and with children without supporting affidavits as required to remain in the bus and to have 100 rand ready in their hands. Half of the bus passengers remained and the South African police officer came to collect the money, barking: “Go! Go!”
Again after Musina the South African police stopped the bus and got inside and this time those with no passports were ordered to get out. The bus crew told the passengers to be ready with 100 rand again. There were grunts of disapproval from those without passports, complaining that they had paid the 100 rand at the border and now they had no money left. The bus was delayed for almost two hours. It is not known how much the bus crew paid the police for the bus to be allowed to proceed.
The bus crew threatened that if we came across another roadblock ahead, they would not give the police money and could leave the passengers at the mercy of the police. Luckily, we arrived in Johannesburg with no further roadblock encountered.
South African police are well-paid unlike their Zimbabwean counterparts and have good working conditions.