Man threatens to jump from roof of police station

ONLOOKERS watched in disbelief yesterday afternoon as a man hung precariously on the rooftop of the Sunnyside police station threatening to jump.

Negotiators and police officers tried to convince him to come down.

Several SAPS vehicles were used to block Leyds Street, and a City of Tshwane fire engine was deployed.

After several hours on the roof, a negotiator climbed the ladder of the fire engine and negotiated with the man for minutes. Moments later, the negotiator climbed down.

Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson and deputy chief Charles Mabaso said it was around midday when they were called to the scene.

“A man was on the rooftop, threatening suicide.”

Mabaso said they pulled in resources, including a fire engine, before handing the scene to the SAPS.

“They were on scene waiting for a chaplain and negotiator to arrive.”

By late afternoon, he said they were still at the scene, providing support.

At about 4.30pm, the man eventually came down, with the help of a negotiator. He was quickly taken into the police station. At one point, the man climbed onto the ladder and went halfway to meet the negotiator. After a brief discussion, the man ran back to the rooftop, to the disappointment of the watching crowd.

Last month, Tshwane Emergency Services deployed resources, including fire engine and ladder, to rescue a naked man believed to be under influence of narcotics.

After hours of negotiations, the man, who was hanging on top of a

Virgin Active Building in Hatfield, was convinced to abandon his mission and rescued by Tshwane Emergency Services Department firefighters.

Mabaso said the man was handed over to police when he came down.

Before that, commander of the Pretoria Central police station, Brigadier Moses Dladla, applauded the “bravery” of officers who intervened and saved the life of a man threatening suicide.

“This comes after a man, 57, threatened to take his life by jumping off a rooftop,” said Pretoria Central police spokesperson, Constable Thabang Nkhumise. “An emergency call was dispatched to the police.

“The Tshwane Emergency Rescue Services were also called to the scene at Obaro shop, at the corner of Pretorius and Sophie de Bruyn streets, on Monday evening (January 2).”

The police reacted swiftly, and on arrival spotted the distressed man on the rooftop, threatening to jump.

The man sipped from a beer can as police officers and emergency workers negotiated with him.

“Fortunately, Detective Warrant Officer Lerothodi Moseki arrived at the scene, and he negotiated with the man. He managed to persuade him to get off the roof,” said Nkhumise.