Krav Maga… Explosive, Aggressive, Effective… My Thoughts & Views

Before I begin, I must state that I am by no means pro- or anti- Israel and am merely reporting on my experience of this combative system. I am looking at the product rather than the history and process by which this system came to be.

Well, what can I say other that I was thoroughly impressed with this course! Not only was it professionally conducted by Sensei Brett Clarke (Director of Krav Maga South Africa (KMSA), the only institution affiliated to the Wingate Institute in Israel), but the material was actually very good too! What impressed me most was its structured approach that covered a wide array of armed and unarmed threat neutralization. 

As for Krav Maga itself, it is ALMOST the epitome of what my self-defence journey has been leading me to and the philosophy that I had adapted a long time ago that started me on this path of self-defence discovery, namely “to devise/develop/discover a self-defence system that will be relevant and effective for anyone and everyone." Krav Maga meets 2 of the 3 criteria – relevant and effective. I will discuss its “perceived shortcomings” in the 3^rd category a bit later. However, let me elaborate a bit more on the 1^st 2 criteria – relevant and effective. Krav Maga is a self-defence system that was developed by the Israeli Military in the 1900’s and has become a global system that anyone can now use as an effective means of protecting themselves.  Krav Maga encourages students to avoid confrontation; however, if it is not possible or unsafe to do so, it promotes finishing a fight as quickly as possible. Its focus is on real-world situations and is extremely efficient due to its aggressive and explosive techniques. With that said, the 3^rd criteria of it being able to be used by “anyone and everyone” may only be one of its few shortcomings. The techniques require a certain amount of fitness, strength and speed to be able to be performed effectively. Therefore, this might exclude those who are physically weaker, sickly or disadvantaged in any other way. However, with that said, Krav Maga might be the activity for those who wish to both increase their fitness prowess as well as their self-defence skills – Something that I am a strong supporter of!

To give a little more insight into the course, I was exposed to 10 days of being punched, kicked, elbowed, kneed, thrown, grappled, stabbed, slashed and threatened by gunpoint at! The system covers the full array of threats that a normal civilian could be subjected to, and how to neutralise those threats.  Again, the emphasis was on an effective and aggressive response to those threats. Although their techniques may seem haphazard and messy to a bystander, there is a lot of logic that goes behind each move. The key is being able to apply that logic to each move when under pressure and with accuracy, speed and strength. By day 10, my group of fellow instructors had to undergo such pressure-testing and all I can say was that it was challenging! Although I have done a few short Krav Maga courses in the past, never had I been subjected to 10 days of continually high-intensity training such as this course! It was both exhausting and exhilarating!

Fortunately, my skills in Krav Maga were relatively easy to acquire due to the many black belts that I had already accomplished in the past. It was just a matter of tweaking a few skills and a change in mind-set. However, a bigger revelation was that because I had not practised my arts every day, those past skill and attributes that collectively make up that skill, had diminish over time.  My body felt the effects of these diminished skills by day 4 with all the kicks and break-falls that we had to do over and over again - so much for being a 4^th dan In Taekwondo and a 2^nd dan in Hapkido. The way I was kicking, one could have mistaken me for a pirate with wooden stumps for legs trying to play English premier league football!

A passing comment made by a long-time Krav Maga practitioner left me with quite a positive impression of this system. Basically he said was that some techniques had changed since the time he first started doing Krav Maga. What this indicates to me is that the system is willing to change and adapt its techniques to be more efficient and relevant for modern society’s threats – something that some of the traditional martial arts would frown upon.

On a more personal note - after 10 days of sharing blood, sweat and injuries with a group of strangers, one cannot but form a bond that can best be described as a brotherhood with them. There is a certain type of character that gets attracted to such sadistic activities and it is through this shared experience that I can honestly say, I know and trust these people more than I would some blood relatives. A wise man once said, “Blood doesn’t make family – loyalty does.” Thank you my fellow brothers and sister for sharing this journey with me.

Krav Maga definitely ranks up there with my list of effective self-defence systems. Improving on this system would be hard, but not impossible, as I definitely think there are some areas that I would like to elaborate on or explore further. My journey in Krav Maga may have just started, but will by no means be solely defined by it. My self-defence journey continues.

To conclude, what did I learn? Besides the obvious self-defence skills, I also learned how to be a better teacher.  As a teacher, one is always striving to find better ways in which to impart the skills and knowledge to a student. As a student, it's all about personal development and being able to accept and apply the instructions of his/her teacher. It's a constant cycle of duality and is one that I hope to continue being on for a very long time.

Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life. 

"Some action pics from one of the days!"

For more information on Defence Unlimited's Krav Maga Classes, please refer to the www.defence-unlimited.com website.

HARD vs SOFT SELF-DEFENCE

In a workshop recently, I had to make a distinction as to when I would hit someone versus using a joint-lock or pressure point against a person, or what I called hard self-defence and soft self-defence.

I boiled it down to what the immediate situation called for.

I would employ hard self-defence techniques when I am physically attacked by one or more aggressors. The tools I would use will include kicking and punching and any other bodily tools that I have trained to use, as well as "unattached" weapons such as firearms, knives, batons and improvised weapons.

However, there are some scenarios where a broken bone or two, may not necessarily be the most  ideal way to deal with an harasser.  It may be “too much force” that could result in me being liable for his/her injuries. This is when I would employ a more subtle form of "soft" self-defence such as joint-locks and pressure points, which may be enough to subdue or deter a harasser.

Note also that I have used different terms, aggressor and harasser, to describe the “bad guy” when I use either hard or soft self-defence. I have done this deliberately so as to act as a trigger as to when I should employ the appropriate techniques.

Which is better? 

My suggestion would be to combine both these 'forms' of self-defence and use what is appropriate at the time.  

For example in the case of suddenly being physically attacked by an aggressor, the immediate response would be to deal with that situation with some "hard' self-defence techniques (block the aggressor's strike; counter strike; create distance and access own weapons (if any); move in to attack aggressor again). Only once the aggressor is subdued and has not fled, would I employ some "soft" self-defence to either restrain the aggressor with a joint-lock, or cause him to become unconscious while I get help or restrain him.

In another example, if I was a female employee and was getting some unwanted attention from a male colleague at work, I would employ some "soft" self-defence techniques such as a finger-lock or pain-inducing pressure point technique so as to deter the harasser from proceeding any further. It should be noted that in this situation, I would also have to re-enforce my position of not wanting any of the harasser’s attention by using strong verbal commands and posturing - more tools and techniques that fall in the "soft" self-defence category. If however, my attempts are not successful and the harasser decides to use more force against me (making him now an aggressor) , I would revert back to "hard' self-defence and strike him hard.

It is important to note that a person's heart-rate and ability to control his or her fine motor skills under a high-pressure scenario is also key as to whether they should employ hard or soft self-defence. Fine motor skills are vital when trying to employ joint-locks or pressure-point techniques (soft self-defence) and will deteriorate as one's heart rate increases.

A person is able to condition themselves to better operate their fine-motor skills under hear-rate increasing scenarios, with the correct training. 

With the correct training, both hard and soft self-defence techniques should be employed to potentially hazardous incidents. Furthermore, one’s ability to be able to distinguish between these types of incidents become important too, as the age old saying of "one size fits all" would not work in a court of law if you are found to be using excessive force in an incident.

To conclude, as your journey in becoming a safety-conscious member of society who studies practical self-defence techniques to empower yourself, you must always keep in mind that as you become more proficient in self-defence, you need to exercise greater self-control when handling an incident and never abuse your skills and knowledge. If you do, you become no better than the criminals we wish to weed out of society.

Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life. 

IMPROVISED WEAPONS FOR SELF-DEFENCE

In an interview recently, I was asked what my opinion on what improvised weapons should be used in a self-defence situation. As a broad guideline, an improvised weapon is an every-day item that can create a greater impact by being swung, thrust or thrown/projected at an aggressor.

As with any self-defence training, there are 3 aspects in using any improvised weapons:

1. Know what tool to use

2. Know what target to strike at

3. Know how to use the tools to strike at the target.

In this post, I will only focus on point 1, "know what tools to use".

When selecting a tool, anything that is around you that fits one or more of the following criteria is a valid improvised weapon:

• Items that are hard and will allow you to use at a distance (an arms-length or greater) against an aggressor. This implies you also need to be able to either lift it up or be able to move it around.

• Items that are small, but hard enough to allow you to apply pressure on it against an aggressor without breaking on impact in close-range (within an arms-length).

• Items that are easily accessible under a high-pressured situation.

Here are also some general guild lines on things to avoid using as an improvised weapon:

• Items that you will need immediately after the incident has occurred.

• Items that you do not want damaged, stolen or lost.

• Items that are hard to reach when the incident occurs.

Car key, for instance, is not an ideal choice for an improvised weapon. If you are in a remote area and get attacked whist in or walking to your car, you do not want to risk losing or damaging your car keys during the struggle with an aggressor.

Cell phones are other items to avoid. If you get injured or have to call the police or a loved one to tell them of the incident, your injuries and/or your whereabouts, you want to ensure that you have a working cell phone handy.

Of course, in the heat of the moment, you may reach for the closest items that are available to you, which may be the car keys or cell phone. If this is the case, you just need to do what is necessary to deal with the immediate threat with whatever means possible. This will mean that you may be without your car keys or phone after the situation, which may on its own be another problem. One way to mitigate this risk is to carry suitable "weapons" that can be used in a self-defence situation. It should be items that you have consciously decided that you will use on an aggressor, should the need arise. Furthermore, it should be items that you have practiced accessing and using under a pressurised situation.

One of the favourite "improvised weapons" that I have often heard and read about for women, are her high-heel shoes. Unless you are comfortable wearing and using high-heel shoes in a situation that will require you to move and kick in these shoes, I personally would not recommend removing them as an improvised weapon to strike an aggressor. Why? Well for starters, most high-heel shoes that I have seen on women have a strap on them to secure the shoes to the feet. This could take some time to remove and hence, goes against the principle of, "must be easily accessible". Furthermore, it compromises her balance as she would have to have to balance on one leg whilst trying to fend off an aggressor or even just to try and get away from the threat! Besides being prone to ankle injuries or losing her own balance and failing (which is definitely not ideal when being attacked), being off-balanced would seriously reduce her chances of being able to handle a self-defence incident.

Let’s look now at a few suggested improvised weapons that one could use in various environments. This list is by no means exhaustive, but, they do follow the guidelines above for selecting a suitable weapon:

At home:  Broom stick, umbrella, dog leash + chain, books, hard files, electric tooth brush, furniture, pot plants, dustbin, ash tray, ornaments, kettle cords, boiling water, rolled up magazine/newspaper, pepper/curry powder, pots & pans, knives, flasks, torch, garden tool, scissors, screw drivers, insecticide, etc..

While traveling in own vehicle: CD's, CD covers, fire extinguisher, cigarette lighter, traffic triangle, car jack, spanner, car tool set, steering lock, first aid kit, water bottles, etc...

Walking about in a shopping mall, to your vehicle, or using public transport: water bottle, walking stick, umbrella, jacket, belt, comb, cigarette lighter, deodorant, groceries, baby pram (minus the baby), etc.. 

An underlying theme in all of this is to have a self-defence ATTITUDE, which is basically, having the mental and emotional capabilities of using the correct tools to strike effectively at the correct targets, when the need arise.

Feel free to look around your environment and scrutinize what you carry and use every day and determine whether or not it would be a suitable tool for self-defence or not.  Furthermore, be sure also to practice accessing and using those items you find suitable - you never know when and where you might need an improvised weapon! If you are serious about your safety, I would suggest seeking out a suitable self-defence instructor that can explain the principles of self-defence to you, as well as empower you with the knowledge and skills relevant for your circumstances.

Till next time, be safe!

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life!

FOOD FOR CRIMINALS - SURPRISE, FEAR, DOUBT, HESITATION

In Kendo (the Japanese art of swordmanship), there is a term called "shikai", or the four illnesses of the heart. These are: "kyo-ku-gi-waku", or "surprise, fear, doubt, hesitation".

In a brief analysis, I will attempt to explain the kendo concepts together with my understanding of self-defence:

SURPRISE will happen when someone breaks the other's mental or physical composure and is able to strike at them while off-guard. In self-defence, this is particularly true for people who are not aware of their surroundings and walk around with pink-tinted glasses. Criminals look for these type of potential victims, who, inevitable giving a statement to police such as, "He just appeared out of nowhere", or "It all happened so fast! I never saw what hit me!"

FEAR is when the one feels threatened by an opponent’s perceived skill or superiority. In a self-defence context, criminals will use fear to intimidate their victims in order to gain compliance. Criminals use a number of methods to induce fear, including verbal threats, physical violence, weapons such as firearms or knives or multiple attackers.

DOUBT is when one is unsure of their own ability and/or effectiveness of their technique. This can be the result of firstly, not even being aware of what to do in a self-defence situation, or secondly, from a lack of effective self-defence training. Irrespective, the outcome is that doubting ones capabilities or abilities leads to ineffective skills to be able to protect one’s self and one’s loved ones.

HESITATION is about the lack of commitment of an attack when an opportunity is presented or created. In self-defence, there sometimes might be a very small window of opportunity to be able to avoid, escape or strike a potential threat. A more proactive approach is to create these opportunities (which will be discussed in a later post). Hesitation in either case could mean one either lives or dies.

The Kendo method of countering "shikai" is by training to have "heijoshin", or "normal mind", which is a "calm, constant or unfettered mind". 

From a self-defence perspective, this "normal mind" can be cultivated through relevant education on crime-related topics, appropriate self-defence training so that one will feel empowered, and lastly, positively engaging in those activities that not only bring joy to your life, but also benefit society as a whole.

In summary, these 4 traits are among many others that a criminals looks for in a victim. The good news is that, through relevant training, one can reduce, and even eliminate these traits, thereby creating a self-defence barrier around them that will be off-putting for most criminals.

A lot can be learnt from the traditional martial arts, but the context will set the relevance of it for this modern day and age.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.

Reference article: https://kendoinfo.wordpress.com/2015/04/13/the-four-sicknesses-shikai-is-there-a-cure/

For more info on Kendo in South Africa, please go to www.sakf.co.za.

Dealing With Surprise Attacks

So what is the one thing that most people find shocking when then are suddenly attacked? It's the fact that they, at that moment in time, they let their fear get out of control and that they do not know what to do!

Firstly, when the emotion of fear is felt, the body's natural defence mechanism kicks in, which is to flood your blood system with adrenaline. In prehistoric times, the flooding of this energy-boosting hormone is meant to trigger a flight or fight response. However, in this this modern age, because they may not necessarily be able to fight or flight, they just freeze. This “freeze” can also be considered as a manifestation of their fear.  This “freeze” is a build-up of the adrenaline in the system that has no outlet to go. Eventually it manifests itself as either frustration or anxiety. Why is this so? Well, back in the day when we weren't at the top of the food-chain, we had to be constantly of the lookout for potential threats. This meant us having to be in control of our fears and to be able to respond accordingly when actual danger arose. However, as we evolved and began to manipulate the environment around us, we also began to become soft and complacent, and had FORGOTTEN how to manage that primal emotion of fear in the correct way. Gone were the days when we were the potential main course for a predator. Now we had to deal with the corporate or social beasts.  This relied on a whole new set of skills that weren't physical. Suddenly, the height of our fears became presenting a big speech in front of the whole school, or a huge sales pitch for a multi-million dollar contact.  We had traded our spears for a microphone and a Mont Blanc ball-point pen! Trying to physically fight ones way out of a speech, or running away from a sales pitch, may not be viewed as the most ‘socially accepted” responses in this modern age.  Our response of fight or flight has been stunted, and what we are left with is the “freeze” syndrome. We are unaccustomed to the fight or flight responses and hence, when a physical threat is upon us, we fail to execute the most effective solution at the moment.  We have forgotten how take control of our fears.

Second, is the know-how of what to do in a physical altercation. Not KNOWING what to do when one is suddenly attacked is also a major factor that increases your risk of becoming a victim of crime. I have spoken to so many people that have said to me that the will "just know" what to do if someone were to attack them! It's a ridiculous statement that quite frankly, could get them killed out there! For instance, the one man I spoke to said he was a pretty decent boxer and would smash the aggressor's face in once he was in range. I asked him what he would do if the aggressor's pulled out a knife or a gun? Or what about if he came with a half-dozen other mates? He froze and I was waiting for a reply like, "I'd punch him before he could stab me or shoot me". The reply never came as I think I made him realise that there are limitations as to what can do if one is attacked with a weapon or by multiple-opponents.  I have a saying that goes like this: “Confidence comes with competence. Competence comes with practise”.  Therefore, to “just know” what to do when you need to is a myth. Practise… that is the only way!

To conclude, dealing with surprise attacks is not impossible, but it is difficult without the relevant training. Understanding how to control that emotion of fear when (and yes, it will) it kicks in is the first step, and the second is knowing what appropriate actions to take in that situation.

Be safe out there.  Till next time.

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.

AN INTERVIEW WITH WARREN HO ON SELF-DEFENCE...

Recently, I had the privilege of being contacted by a TV producer to do a short self-defence snippet for a SABC TV program that was aimed at empowering the youth of South Africa. The specific topic they wanted to interview me on was my take on self-defence and my company, Defence Unlimited. Below are 3 questions that I was sent to prepare me for the interview. I decided to write it down (as I normally waffle quite a bit without a script and when I have camera’s focused on me), but it will be interesting to see the interview (once it has been edited) and compare it to what I had wrote!

Question 1: The importance of self-defence, the martial arts, and the responsibility that come with the freedom to defend yourself.

Firstly, I have made a clear distinction between martial arts and self-defence training. There are some martial arts, not many, that have retained its primary objective as being a means of protecting oneself from danger, hence a martial art for self-defence. However, many martial arts have progressed from this very primal objective to a more philosophical practise aimed predominately at cultivating the human body, mind and spirit.

There are some martial arts that have also crossed over to into the realms of sports and bring into it elements such as competition, rules and winners & losers. In many cases, this commercialisation has help some martial arts flourish and become as prominent as they are today. It does, however, bring with it the negative traits of sports too, such as bad attitudes, poor sportsmanship and politics.

However, besides the obvious physical conditioning, martial arts and self-defence training do have something else in common, which is to cultivate some very positive characteristics in the practitioner, namely confidence, resilience and discipline.

Confidence - By installing confidence in a person, you give them the ability to face life head-on, with their head held high. A stressful job becomes so much more manageable as confidence in yourself and abilities allows you to realise that this is just a job after all; or the peer pressure in school become less overwhelming as you feel you can now stand on your own and be ok with it.

Resilience – The ability to get back up after you have been knocked down, is a trademark of successful people. Life, like in the dojo (training hall) is not always going to be hunky-dory and go according to plan. There will be set-backs, slow progress, and disappointments. The key is to get back up, brush it off, learn from it, and keep on going.

Discipline – The assertion of willpower over more base desires, and is synonymous with self-control. Having this ability allows us to harness our time, skills and mental capabilities into something positive. In training, this could involve repeating a technique over and over again until it becomes instinctive. In life, it could be following a strict code of conduct (such as marriage vows) so as to ensure one’s marriage is happy and faithful.

By having these 3 characteristics, it gives us the foundation and choice to live what I call, a fully-engaged life – A life that you want to live. The key word here is that it gives you choices, and this on its own is a great responsibility. You can choose to live a good life, or you can choose to live a bad life. You just have to live with the consequences.

Question 2: A demonstration and tips on how to defend yourself in various situations.

In self-defence, I am a firm believer that non-violence is superior to violence, hence, I use a strategy I have developed called, “A.D.A.P.T”, the art of non-fighting.

ADAPT stands for:

• Avoidance
• Dodge; Escape; Elude; Evade;
• Arbitrate (officially try to settle disagreement. to officially try to settle a disagreement by considering all the facts and opinions); Verbal Dissuasion; Oral Combat; Dissuasion, Negotiation,
• Pretend / Posture
• Tactical Control; Restraint

All of these individual tactics are a non-fighting response to a possible harmful situation.

(More on this in future posts)!

However, at the same time, I am not naive and should an altercation become physical, I will use whatever means possible, physical or non-physical, to protect myself and my loved one.

One of the organizations I belong too, called MDW (www.multidimensionalwarrior.co.za) , have a nice maxim which is, “Pressure dictates tactics”. Basically, depending on the amount of pressure an aggressor directs at me, I will adapt my self-defence response accordingly. As an example, an aggressor comes at me empty-handed, I will draw a knife or retractable baton. If they come at me with a knife, I will draw a firearm. If they draw a firearm, I get in my car and get away! You get the picture, right?

Initially though, all attacks will begin with me being unarmed to defend myself. This is where I will use some unarmed techniques to give me that momentary opportunity to either get away, or draw a weapon, or position myself in a better position to launch a full-on assault at my aggressor. In the case of confronting the attacker, one must know and understand what tools he/she has at her disposal, and what target areas are feasible at that moment.

Question 3: The importance of being taught by an expert (Basically, what Defence Unlimited is, what it offers, and how people can contact you and make use of your services)

Expert is a very deceptive word. An expert implies I know everything, where in fact, all I am but a mere student who has found some truths that resonate with me and that I can apply into my daily life. Since I was 8 years old, I have never stopped learning something about any of the martial arts that I had studied. I have a love and passion for it, but realised that besides the martial arts, there is a greater need for something for the everyday-person to be able to protect themselves, so that they can live the lives that want to live. Hence, Defence Unlimited was formed.  Our mission is to “unlock potential to live a fully-engaged life through effective self-defence training”.  By educating and empowering people with self-defence skills and knowledge, they will feel more secure at home and work, and will be more inclined to engage positively in their life. This in turn allows them to strive towards their goals and dreams, and hence, allows them to live a happier and fulfilling life! Our self-defence system is for a smarter generation and is simple, effective and relevant. For more information on Defence Unlimited and what we do, please go to www.defence-unlimited.com.

With that said, there are many schools and “experts” out there that teach martial arts, self-defence or both. Some are good and some are bad and the best way to find out is to check their credentials and experience one of their classes. Be wary of some of the stuff you can find on You Tube as that would totally get you killed in the streets.

As a closing question, I was asked what my definition of self-defence is. My answer was that for me personally, self-defence is understanding myself and what I am or am not capable of doing in order to protect myself or my loved ones. It is about answering this simple, but profound question: "What am I willing fight, die or kill for?" If you can honestly answer this question, then you have answered what self-defence is for yourself. The rest is just commentary that must be practiced and incorporated into your daily life to ensure that that answer remains secure. 

Till next time!

Get EDUCATED. Feel EMPOWERED. Live a FULLY-ENGAGED life.

CORRUPT COPS – What To Do If You Come Across One...

Amongst the obvious criminal elements we have in our South African society, another disturbing factor to take into consideration is the amount of corrupt police (cops) that have forgone their duties to enforce the law, and terrorise innocent people by abusing their power.

In a recent survey conducted by FutureFact, an annual survey that examines the attitudes and beliefs of citizens in the country, it was revealed that 75% of South Africans believe that a lot of police are criminals themselves!

Furthermore, according to FutureFact, 44% of people felt that there was no point in reporting crime to the police; 30% of adults fear going to the police station to report a crime themselves; while in general, 33% of people fear the police.

These are pretty scary stats and reflect the average South African’s reaction to all the corruption that they have experienced, or at least heard about amongst their social circles. It begs the question, if you can’t trust the protectors, who can you trust?

In doing some research, there are some internal mechanisms within the various policing structures that are supposed to weed out these corrupted enforcers and hopefully bring them to justice. Not much has ever been openly published, but I hope that something CONSTRUCTIVE does happen when these bad eggs are found.

For your own protection, here are a couple of points to keep in mind if you encounter some suspected-corrupt cops.

1. Remain calm and co-operative at all time.

2. Maintain constant dialogue in a respectful, non-sarcastic manner (even though you may be fuming on the inside).

3. Should you carry any firearm, inform the officer as such. BE SURE TO BE CARRYING BOTH YOUR DRIVER’S LICENCE and FIREARM LICENCE with you at all times when you are driving and/or carrying.

4. Keep your hands out of the pockets of jackets and jeans. It looks too suspicious.

5. Don’t make any sudden movements or gestures. REMEMBER, KEEP YOUR COOL!

In the case of SAPS (South African Police Services), try and get the “CALL SIGN” of his/her official vehicle. The CALL SIGN is marked on the side of the police vehicle and has 2 alpha letters & 2 numerals.  For example, “SD34”, indicates the station (SD = Sandton) and the vehicle number (34).  This CALL SIGN, together with the time of the incident, can be tracked on the AVL tracker system for future reference. It will also indicate the officers who were operating the vehicle at the time. If you feel the incident was unjust or the service was not satisfactory, you can report the incident to the SAPS’s Centre for Service Excellence on the toll-free line, 0800 333 177. You may also send a detailed report in writing to the following fax number: 012 393 5452 or email address: service@saps.gov.za

In the case of the various traffic officials (e.g. Metro Police, Ekurhuleni, etc), use the following numbers to report the incident:

Lastly, one of the findings of FutureFact was that 91% of South Africans believe that Crime Line, an independent crime tip-off service, is playing a substantial role in enabling people to address crime in a way that feels more effective than directly to the police themselves. This does not mention if this includes reporting corrupt cops or not, however, corruption in the police structure itself, is in my view, a criminal offense. Anonymous tip offs can be sent via SMS to Crime Line on 32211. For more on Crime Line, refer to www.crimeline.co.za.

PLEASE NOTE: Keep in mind that this does not address FAKE COPS, which is a whole lot more complex a more controversial topic, especially on how to identify them when they are wearing OFFICIAL police uniforms and drive OFFICIAL police vehicles (how the hell did they get hold of the official gear in the first place?). Perhaps more on this in a future blog?

Till next time, be safe out there.

Get Educated. Feel Empowered. Live a Fully-Engaged Life.

Sources and links:

http://defence-unlimited.blogspot.com/2014/10/police-harassment-what-to-do-when.html

http://www.futurefact.co.za/futurefact-finds/futurefact-finds-three-quarters-south-africans-believe-lot-police-are-criminals

http://www.saps.gov.za/services/services.php)

https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Corruption-Traffic-Enforcement-and-Road-Safety

https://www.crimeline.co.za/tipoff.aspx