Plea to South African authorities by Mrs Marietjie C Marais of Parow, wife of missing South African Police photographer Gerhardus Marais - whose salary and medical aid payments were stopped illegally and leaving his family penniless and without medical aid, and fearing that they will be kicked out of their home. Warrant-officer Marais was reported missing on 15 december 2014, suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder. The wife charges the police with mishandling the investigation into his mysterious disappearance, describing his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder which was caused by his job. She and her children also fear that he may have been killed.
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From Mrs Marietjie C Marais, 4B Meltbrink Street Parow Cape Town 7500 marix.marais@gmail.com
Re: SAPS stops salary of missing SA police w/o Gerhardus Marais, leaves family penniless: (SAPD Force no: 0429591-9)
-- 3 March 2015 TO: The President of the Republic of South Africa; Premier of the Western Cape;
National Minister of Police; The National Commissioner of Police; Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner;
National Minister of Public Service; South African Police Union; Democratic Alliance; National Minister of Labour;
National Minister of Home Affairs; Independent Police Investigative Directorate; Solidarity
-- It is with regret (and somewhat disgust) that I have to share with you the following information and the subsequent consequences
relating to the South African Police Service's conduct:-- My husband, W/O Gerhardus Marais joined the SAPS in active service in 1989.
During his extensive career of 26 years, he diligently performed his duties in various departments of the Service, eventually focussing
his career on forensic photography, where he was stationed in Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.
Although he was a very well liked member of the Service and attentively focused on his work, work related stress eventually started
having an impact on his psychological health. During June 2014 Gert had attended to a murder case in which a young child had been
brutally murdered. He started experiencing severe nightmares and clearly displayed symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder later
becoming severely depressed. Shortly after the above-mentioned incident he was admitted to De Tijger private psychiatric clinic and
embarked on intensive psychotherapy. He was treated by a private psychiatrist and started on medical treatment to control his depressive
mood and soon returned to active duty. Though fully compliant on his medication, he struggled with his health and unfortunately during
the ensuing 6 months he had numerous serious suicide attempts, eventually necessitating certification under the Mental Health Care Act
and admission to Stikland Mental Hospital, Bellville, late in November 2014. He underwent in-hospital psychiatric treatment for a period of
3 weeks and was discharged on 11 December 2014. During this period he made use of his allocated sick-leave.
-- On Sunday, 14 December 2014, Gert unfortunately suffered another nervous breakdown and left our residence on foot.
Up to this point we have not been able to allocate Gert again. I reported Gert missing at Parow police station (CAS 8/12/14) and
W/Os Spannenberg and Simpson from the missing persons division were appointed to investigate the case. It has been an absolutely
frustrating experience to obtain any information regarding the investigation to say the very least with virtually no information being shared
with me. In fact, I am often contacted by the investigating officers to establish whether I have received any news that might assist them- as
if it is expected of me to do their investigation! As I was concerned that my husband's remuneration and benefits might be stopped, I
contacted the South African Police Union (of which my husband is a member) early in January 2015. I was confidentially informed that
his salary and benefits could not be stopped for as long as he was regarded as an active member of the Police Service.
This, according to the information I received would be the case for as long as he was regarded as a "missing person".
If it was found that he had willingly absconded and/or his body found, the situation naturally would change.
I was however assured that should this be the case, I would be informed well in advance via a hand-delivered official and confidential letter.
You can surely understand my utmost surprise when I realized on the 28th of February 2015 that Gert had not been paid his due salary;
-- that all his benefits and medical aid (Polmed) had been suspended with immediate effect- this without ANY forewarning.
A colleague (who wishes to remain anonymous) privately informed me that his station commander, Lt. Col. Prinsloo and Col. Makadula
ordered this without giving any form of explanation. You have to understand and have compassion for the tremendous anguish not only me,
but our two daughters are currently going through: not only do we have no idea where my husband/their father is; whether he is alive or dead,
but now we are living in a constant financial uncertainty- we are currently not covered by a medical aid (to which there have been
conscientiously monthly contributions made during the past 26 years) and have to face the possibility of losing our home- this without any
warning or notification.My husband had been a loyal member of the Service for many years- contributing unconditionally;
he developed mental health problems due to constant work related psychological battering throughout many years for which he received
no support from the SAPS; he is currently still listed as a "missing person" and, in my opinion, the investigation into this matter has been
handled in a poor fashion with seemingly no empathy from other SAPS members.His salary has been suspended without reason or
any form of explanation, seemingly against the rules and regulations of the SAPU.-0- Yours truly Mrs. Marietjie Marais March 3 2015
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