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SA policeman moves into station | SA policeman moves into station |
(about 18 hours later) | |
A senior South African police officer has set up home in his police station after payments were stopped for his accommodation at a local guest house. | A senior South African police officer has set up home in his police station after payments were stopped for his accommodation at a local guest house. |
The Beeld newspaper reports that he washes in the station's kitchen and holds meetings in his pyjamas. | The Beeld newspaper reports that he washes in the station's kitchen and holds meetings in his pyjamas. |
Superintendent David Matlahola has been living at Ratanga police station, east of Johannesburg for the past two weeks. | Superintendent David Matlahola has been living at Ratanga police station, east of Johannesburg for the past two weeks. |
A local official told the BBC the situation had led to tensions between staff members. | A local official told the BBC the situation had led to tensions between staff members. |
Johan Bester, chairman of the local police liaison forum, said the police had agreed to pay his accommodation of 8,000 rand ($1038; £620) a month boarding as a perk for relocating the station commander from Limpopo Province to Gauteng. | |
"The arrangement came to an end last month. He demanded to be moved into a state home but the police refused." | "The arrangement came to an end last month. He demanded to be moved into a state home but the police refused." |
He said the matter had been brought to his attention by officers at the Ratanga police station. | He said the matter had been brought to his attention by officers at the Ratanga police station. |
"Mr Matlahola was told that he doesn't qualify for a state home because he is a high-ranking officer. I find this difficult to believe because I personally know of officers where I work, who have a similar ranking who live in state homes," he said. | "Mr Matlahola was told that he doesn't qualify for a state home because he is a high-ranking officer. I find this difficult to believe because I personally know of officers where I work, who have a similar ranking who live in state homes," he said. |
Mattress | Mattress |
Police at the Ratanga station refused to comment on the record when contacted for comment by the BBC but they did confirm the story was true. | Police at the Ratanga station refused to comment on the record when contacted for comment by the BBC but they did confirm the story was true. |
South Africa's Beeld newspaper, which says its journalists visited the police station, reports that Mr Matlahola has moved some of his furniture, including a lounge suite and a mattress, into his office. | South Africa's Beeld newspaper, which says its journalists visited the police station, reports that Mr Matlahola has moved some of his furniture, including a lounge suite and a mattress, into his office. |
Mr Bester told BBC that he has received a number of calls from community members concerned about the situation at the police station. | Mr Bester told BBC that he has received a number of calls from community members concerned about the situation at the police station. |
The Sapa news agency reports that the police have refused to comment on matter. | The Sapa news agency reports that the police have refused to comment on matter. |
"It is an internal matter and will be handled internally," said Gauteng police spokesman Superintendent Eugene Opperman, Sapa reports. | "It is an internal matter and will be handled internally," said Gauteng police spokesman Superintendent Eugene Opperman, Sapa reports. |
The BBC's efforts to reach Mr Opperman were unsuccessful. | The BBC's efforts to reach Mr Opperman were unsuccessful. |