Muizenberg Police Station Commander Col Vassie Naidoo is back at the helm of the station after he was temporarily moved to a different precinct last month.
Naidoo together with Lt Col Margaret Rossouw and two admin clerks were temporarily transferred with immediate effect pending a court case against them. They face 24 charges, mainly of common assault. However, the decision was challenged by the community. In a petition that garnered close to 2 000 signatures, Muizenberg residents demanded the colonels stay.
The petition stated that the Muizenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) nor the security stakeholders and neighbourhood watches were advised or consulted by the police prior to their removal.
Muizenberg CPF chair Derick Muller said they were pleased with the return of the colonels.
“The petition worked, we got over 2 000 signatures and the pressure came.”
He added that the colonels will still be expected back in court.
“As CPF we are ecstatic that the colonels are back, they have been back for a week. We have to say that the colonel has done good work in the community. Col Naidoo is on the foot beat; he does walks in the community himself and he is a very strong leader. Our station was the top station for three to four years in a row.”
Naidoo and Rossouw face 24 charges, mainly of common assault.
In September 2020, the colonels were moved to provincial positions only to return to their posts after all charges were dropped in December 2020.
However, in February this year, Col Naidoo and Rossouw were again moved pending the outcome of another investigation.
The court case will continue at the Wynberg Regional Court tomorrow (25 May).
