Gangsterism, poor police resources, and failing municipal services were some of the issues thrust into the spotlight at a march on Sunday to honour slain Gqeberha policeman, Constable Callan Andrews.
A large group of residents, dressed in black and carrying blue balloons, marched to the Gelvandale police station and then to the spot in Helenvale where Andrews was shot on New Year’s Eve, shortly after he and some community members were filmed pushing a stricken police vehicle.
According to police he was attacked and shot before his alleged assailants, aged 17 and 18, stole his service pistol and fled.
Twenty-nine-year-old Andrews, who had recently graduated from the police academy, died in hospital on the same day.
Two youths were subsequently arrested and are due to appear in court on Monday, while the Hawks in the Eastern Cape said more arrests were imminent.
Addressing the large crowd that gathered outside the Gelvandale police station, Callan’s father, Brett, also a policeman, delivered an emotional speech while sounding a warning to gangsters in the area.
“These animals, they don’t fight fair. They will shoot you from behind. Let’s deal with them decisively,” he told the angry crowd.
Andrews also thanked his colleagues for supporting him and his family during this difficult time.
Mother, Jean Serfontein, also gave an emotion-filled address as she handed over a memorandum to the SAPS district commissioner, Major-General Vuyisile Ncata.
“I hope this memorandum won’t be in vain because my son loved his job, she told Ncata, recounting how he helped a member of the public who was run over by a taxi, taking the man to hospital in a police vehicle and helping to open up a hospital file for him.
“That is how I want to remember my son, not the son laying in the street shot. Justice is going to be served for my son,” she said.
General Ncata, in his remarks, acknowledged the anger of the community, saying the government has a constitutional obligation to look after the public and to create a safe environment.
He said SAPS was also angry at the murder of Andrews, and at themselves as well.
“We believe that no murder of a policeman should just be accepted. We will continue ensuring that we put systems in place, put measures in place to protect our members and the community.
Ncata said two suspects were arrested while the investigation was continuing under the Hawks.
Callan’s uncle, Chris Andrews, spoke of the poor social conditions in Helenvale which he said gives rise to gangsterism while also taking aim at the South African Police Service.
He said the broken-down police vehicle which his nephew was pushing symbolised the “brokenness of our law enforcement".
“We cannot continue in a similar vein,” Chris said.
Meanwhile, the three-page memorandum also served as a formal complaint against the SAPS and the Minister regarding the murder of Andrews while also calling for better protection of SAPS members.
“The community at large asserts that the SAPS has, through negligence, failed to protect one of its own by deploying Constable Andrews into a high-risk gang-affected area with a faulty vehicle.
“This memorandum seeks justice for Constable Andrews and demands protection for SAPS officials against such negligence which has resulted in the brutal loss of life,”
The memorandum also called on the police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to conduct a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Constable Andrews.
"This investigation should determine whether SAPS negligence, both in terms of the vehicle's condition and the failure to provide proper backup, contributed to the officer’s demise".
The document, in the name of father, Brett Andrews, notes that the "tragic death" of Constable Andrews highlighted severe systemic failures within the South African Police Service, including inadequate vehicle maintenance, lack of proper risk assessment, and failure to provide necessary backup in dangerous situations.
"We urge the SAPS Minister, Provincial Commissioner, and relevant authorities to take immediate action to address these failures, ensure accountability, and prevent future losses of life within SAPS," said.
General Ncata said the memorandum will make its way through the channels to the Minister of Police.
