The art of indulging in “num-num”, or free sex with a prostitute, may be news to you and I. But it isn’t to two members of Durban’s SAPS’s Port Security Services unit, commonly known as the harbour police. After a high-speed chase, gunshots, and a bite from a police dog, the two officers and their “partners”, were eventually apprehended.

Initially, the two metro policemen that were involved in apprehending the suspects had thought one of the suspects was impersonating a police officer.

It didn’t take them long however, to realise the man, and his fellow officer, who was safely hidden at the back of their police vehicle, were in fact real policemen.

They had been quietly enjoying some “num-num” with two prostitutes.

Quite a bit of drama then ensued, and after the metro policemen managed to apprehend the two constables, and their two women companions, they faced their next hurdle.

The Mercury has more on the way the bizarre incident played out:

Officers at two police stations refused to register the case and hold their colleagues accountable for their conduct, with the attitude being that indulging in “num-num” was normal.

It all started just after 01:00 on Easter Monday, with metro police dog unit officers investigating tyre theft near South Coast Road, Clairwood.

They noticed a PSS-marked panel van nearby and asked for assistance, but the constable, who appeared to be alone, said the back of his van was filled with tools and he could not carry a tyre they had managed to recover.

Later they saw the same vehicle – far out of its jurisdiction – parked in a dark alley. The metro officers became suspicious that the constable could be an impostor in police uniform.

On approaching the van on foot, they saw a figure crouched on the floor on the passenger side. The constable driving the van got out with a weapon in hand and then tried to mow down the metro policeman with his vehicle.

A high-speed car chase ensued from Clairwood to Umbilo, where the PSS vehicle stopped and the female passenger got out and tried to run away.

The metro officers apparently fired a warning shot and asked the constable and his passenger to surrender, but he refused and the dog was released to reel them in.

Loud banging sounds from the back of the panel van alerted them to another policeman with another prostitute on the inside.

The early morning drama moved to the Umbilo police station, where officers allegedly refused to open a docket against their constable colleagues, saying the drama had started in the Montclair police jurisdiction and the matter should be taken there. Montclair officers, however, said the arrests had taken place in Umbilo and the case should be opened at that station.

Montclair police eventually did the right thing and opened a docket wherein the constable driving the van was charged with attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm because he didn’t have any identification or his appointment card to verify he was entitled to have a weapon at the time.

The weapon was his colleague’s and the colleague was subsequently charged with failing to secure his weapon as required by the Firearms Control Act.

SAPS weren’t to be outdone though, and counter-charged the metro policemen with a charge of attempted murder for firing a shot, as well as assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm because they had set the dog on the constable.

The prostitutes, who reportedly knew the constables well, made statements and were released.

Metro police spokesman Eugene Msomi said he was waiting for further information and would only be able to comment on the matter on Thursday.

SAPS told The Mercury that:

The case docket was registered at Montclair police station and it has been transferred to Umbilo police station for investigation. Umbilo police station has not yet received the docket. We can only give details as soon as Umbilo police station has received the docket.

This will allow us to verify the details of the case with the investigating officer in order for us to give you accurate information.

The two accused constables were reportedly released without appearing in court or paying police bail.

[Source: IOL]