Was treated to an interesting bit of information just before taraweeh prayer (the special night-time Ramadan prayer) yesterday. Apparently some of the Muslims were being attacked with eggs while leaving the mosque after the taraweeh prayer. A black car (didn’t get all the details) driving around the Epsom mosque and blasting people walking home with eggs. Now that I think back, I was attacked as well… but they missed me.. I remember hearing a ‘Smack!’ while walking home, but they missed me… so I carried on walking… I remember a black car though.
Anyway… I have to give the Epsom Police here major props. The mosque executive members contacted the police gave them details etc. and within 24 hours of the report, the police commissioner (yeah the top dog) knew about it, placed cops outside the mosque, had unmarked cars parked on the road around the mosque, tracked down the car and arrested the perpetrators.
That bit of info blew me away… coming from South Africa where you hardly ever hear of cops working so fast, let alone catching any perpetrators, ever (well regarding crimes that happen particular to you) anyway. All I remember thinking was that I heard the one day that this was and the next day it was over. Guys caught, cops outside. Problem Solved. Damn… that was FAST.
Technorati Tags: Islam, Life, Taraweeh, Epsom, London
Hmmm. Good to hear that the cops are up to scratch over there. But its sad to see such religious intolerance though.
Muhammad how can you go around giving South African a bad name like this? You can’t just generalise like that about the policing situation in the country. I just want to let you know that recently the police have been doing a great job cacthing robbers at cash heists. A lot of people have died to put South Africa where it is and its realy disappointing to see people like you leaving the country to give it bad publicity.
From a proud South African!
Nonhlanhla Ngeleza
Nonhlanhla, I understand your point and I love South africa too. I did not Leave South Africa because I hate the place in fact, there may be a future for us in SA too. Nothing is permanent.
Regarding the cops in SA, I am speaking from my experiences and by no means does it intend to generalise that all cops in SA are incompetent. I personally know a few cops who are anything but incompetent. The few experiences I have had when I really needed them, however, were another story… I’ve been robbed and had things stolen and people attacked and in all cases the service was severely lacking and, I feel, there was no real effort to bring closure or remedy the situation in any way.
From a Proud South African.
Muhammad.
I must say I am really relieved to hear your comment. I am sorry about what you went through with the police, it sounds like a bad experience and I hope you find closure. I have also had bad experiences with the cops but I wont go into that, a friend of mine had a positive experience though. My point was that there are good and bad things happening in SA but there are people out there who work very hard to make it a better place. I am one of those people and it really hurt to see the comment you wrote.
Take Care
Nhlanhla
I’m sorry you’re hurt by what I wrote. But I don’t take it back. I give credit where it’s due. Give me a story of South African cops doing an awesome job and I’ll post it up.
Peace.
M.
Rolex gang mastermind arrested
2009-11-12 10:16
Johannesburg – The alleged “mastermind” of a gang notorious for its love of luxury watches has been arrested, Gauteng police said on Thursday.
“This person was the one involved in the Rolex watch gang. He was the mastermind, he was the king of this gang,” said Inspector Moses Maphakela.
The 35-year-old man, who cannot be named because he has not appeared in court, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon following a high-speed chase through Sandton.
Police had ambushed the man at a clinic in Morningside. When cornered, the man barrelled through police cars in a Mercedes Benz while being shot at and sped off to Friedman Drive.
CT cops kill 4 would-be robbers
2009-10-26 17:27
Johannesburg – Police shot dead four would-be cash-in-transit robbers in Cape Town on Monday, Western Cape police said.
A gang of five attacked a Coin Security van in Bamford Street, Kuilsrivier around lunch time and police patrolling the area responded, spokesperson Musa Zondi said.
“In the ensuing gunfight, two robbers died. Three robbers fled and police were hot on their trail. The robbers turned and fired at the police who then returned fire.”
Two of the three remaining robbers were shot and killed in Lourens Street and the third was arrested, unhurt.
http://www.news24.com/Content/SouthAfrica/News/1059/a7893803b0064e79ae4a8d9e21c9f80e/26-10-2009-05-27/CT_cops_kill_4_would-be_robbers