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Police watchdogs are cracking down on corrupt cops.
Roger Sedres / Gallo Images via Getty Images
- 257 police officers have been arrested in connection with 178 cases of corruption.
- In total, law enforcement agencies are investigating 397 police-related cases.
- National Commissioner Khehla Sitole said he had instituted a “clean-up operation”.
While 257 police officers have been arrested in connection with 178 corruption cases, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) now wants blue uniforms to be replaced by orange prison overalls.
Scopa was briefed on Tuesday by the South African Police Service (SAPS) about corruption cases involving police officers.
“The national commissioner has recognized that police corruption has become increasingly topical following growing reports of employee involvement in criminal activities. A perception of police corruption negatively undermines the entire police fraternity,” the presentation reads of SAPS.
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The Crime Priority Investigation Directorate (DPCI), also known as the Falcons, the Independent Police Investigation Directorate (IPID), the SAPS National Anti-Corruption Detective Services Unit and the Investigations Directorate (ID) National Prosecutor’s Office were investigating corrupt activities by SAPS employees.
In total, these agencies were investigating 397 cases, of which 178 were in court and led to the arrest of 257 suspects.
In addition to the criminal cases, the SAPS also initiated disciplinary proceedings against 546 employees, which included two lieutenant generals, three major generals and eight brigadiers, in connection with 286 cases.
Of the 286 cases, a total of 216 had been terminated, resulting in 77 layoffs and 22 service cancellations. A total of 18 cases were withdrawn, in 60 cases no prima facie case was found and 113 cases resulted in sanctions other than dismissal.
High profile
Among the high-profile cases was the so-called blue lights case, which involved former acting police commissioner Kgomotso Pahlane, and the investigation into the award of contracts to Forensic Data Analysis (FDA).
“The situation forces us to act very decisively,” said National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole. “So we have adopted what I can call a cleanup campaign.”
Overall, the committee was satisfied that SAPS appeared to be taking the matter seriously and taking action to get rid of the bad apples.
“If there is one place where we do not expect corruption to occur, it is SAPS,” said Scopa chairman, IFP MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa.
“We want to see more arrests at SAPS, blue turns orange, and clean up the rot and clutter at SAPS.”
