Gauteng High Court Holds Minister of Police Liable After Engine Stolen From Impounded VW Golf
- The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled against the Minister of Police after a woman's car engine disappeared while in police custody
- Vehicle owner Suzette Ropafadzo Paradza launched a civil lawsuit after discovering her 2014 Volkswagen Golf's engine was missing
- South Africans weighed in on the news, with many sharing their own accounts of their vehicle parts being stolen while in police custody
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG — The Minister of Police has been held liable after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria found that the South African Police Service failed to protect a vehicle held as an exhibit at its SAPS 13 storage facility in Pretoria West.
The case was brought by Suzette Ropafadzo Paradza, whose 2014 Volkswagen Golf was seized in May 2022 following a false hijacking report made by a friend.
Warrant Officer Warren Timothy Bishop recovered the vehicle in Laudium on 24 May 2022 and confirmed at the time that it was in working order and had an engine, though its battery was missing. Facility security officer Mogadi Mashap Mashala also formally verified that the vehicle was booked into the storage lot with its engine intact.
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Stripped vehicle discovered at collection
When Paradza and Osiele went to collect the vehicle, they first struggled to locate it within the facility and were unable to obtain the keys. They eventually had it towed to a local mechanic, who found the bonnet fastened with wire and the engine missing. Osiele reported the theft to Bishop and returned the vehicle to the storage lot.
Paradza subsequently initiated a civil lawsuit against the Minister of Police. The state sought to rely on an indemnity form Paradza had signed upon releasing the vehicle, arguing it shielded the department from liability. Acting Judge Jacques Minnaar rejected that argument, finding the indemnity unenforceable under the circumstances.
"The defendant clearly failed in its duty of care in safekeeping the vehicle pending the release to the plaintiff," Judge Minnaar stated.
He also criticised the storage facility's approach to assisting members of the public as lax, noting that the officer who issued the exit permit failed to physically inspect the vehicle before completing the documentation.
The court ruled in Paradza's favour, ordering the Minister of Police to cover her legal costs. The quantification of damages was postponed indefinitely and will be determined in a separate proceeding.
How did South Africans react?
South Africans reacted sharply to the ruling on social media, with several users sharing similar experiences.
Gerald Oliver wrote:
"You can't paint everyone with the same brush, but there are some high-end criminals in the police force."
Jabulani Sifiso commented:
"They don't impound your car for no reason. Once they impound your car, there is already a buyer waiting for a certain part in your car."
Tlhalefang Martin Phuthi-motaung remarked:
"Police working at SAP 13 are also part-time mechanics."
Dinesh Maharaj added:
"We had a battery stolen from our vehicle whilst at the pound and some other parts were found under the vehicle too."
John Adams shared:
"My battery, injectors, computer box and lockset were stolen too."
JP Rodrigues noted:
"Not the police minister's money. It's the taxpayer's money."
Durban man accuses SAPS of stripping his car
Briefly News reported that a Durban man was looking for answers after his car was stripped while at the police impound lot in Isipingo.
The man claimed his Opel Corsa was fine when it was taken to the lot, but when he went to see it, all that was left was the shell and seats.
Mzansi wasn't surprised that the man's car was stripped and has accused SAPS officers of being involved in criminal activities.
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Source: Briefly News
