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AfriForum today released the Broken Blue Line Report, containing 100 examples of violent crimes in which South African police officers were involved since 2011. The report was compiled by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR).

AfriForum is of the view that National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega is one of the main reasons behind the weakening of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“The police no longer infiltrate gangs, but gangs infiltrate the police. How is it possible that one of every 100 police officers have a criminal record? The Broken Blue Line Report shows exactly why the police are failing in safeguarding the people of our country,” Ian Cameron, Head of Community Safety at AfriForum, said.

AfriForum proposed the following policy and other changes:

·         General Phiyega should be replaced by a competent person.
·         Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko should be replaced.
·         Transparency should be restored; the police should be seen as an honest institution again.
·         Political appointments within the SAPS should end in order for service delivery to enjoy priority.
·         The standard of training should be advanced.
·         Specialist units should be revived without political interference.
·         Criminal elements should be removed.

“The report shows that crime levels will not decline if wolf remains in sheep’s clothes. Private safety initiatives and structures are the only solution,” Cameron said.

·         The report is the first of two knockouts by AfriForum against the police in the next two weeks. The civil rights organisation will release another report in February which indicates that government institutions have lost more firearms than licenced firearm owners.

·         See Report attached.

Issued by AfriForum