HERE is just another example of the law enforcers of our country not bothering to comply with the very laws they persecute the public for.
On Friday at approximately 4.50pm, I was travelling towards Third Avenue from Langenhoven Drive, Newton Park, along a very busy Cape Road.
When it rains, traffic becomes quite congested in our underdeveloped road infrastructure in Port Elizabeth. In the left-hand lane a man dressed in civilian clothing parked his SAPS Golf, clearly marked Eastern Cape provincial, etc.
Any parking or stopping is prohibited between 4pm and 6pm in that lane.
This policeman shrugged his shoulders when a driver behind him hooted to draw his attention to a clearly visible "no stopping sign”. He walked towards a takeaway establishment and entered.
Clearly his hunger was a huge emergency, yet he did not have a blue light, nor did he put on his hazard lights.
I turned left at Third Avenue and I parked behind this establishment. There are countless parking bays at the back and you can access the business from both sides! I just knew I would still find him inside and that he would clearly not be attending to any crime, but his stomach!
When I entered he was standing reading The Herald, while waiting for his order. I proceeded past him, out of the Cape Road entrance and took some photos of his vehicle.
As I returned he got his order and got into his car, which was holding up many vehicles during peak hour traffic.
As I eventually pulled out of my parking on the other side of the building where Spar and various other businesses are located, this SAPS vehicle came driving along, the driver merely turning to make his way back down Cape Road in the opposite direction. My guess is he was on his way back to Mount Road police offices, as this is where some of the provincial offices are located.
Isn’t is just merry to know our hard-earned tax money just enabled this policeman to use the SAPS vehicle for solving his "emergency”!
Karen (surname provided), Port Elizabeth