The DA is deeply concerned over media reports of alleged acts of
criminality by members of the SAPS.

Media reports that a tuck shop owned by a foreign national in Roodepan
was robbed of cash to tune of R8000 and other related incidents are an
embarrassment to the entire police service and disappointing to say
the least.

It is disturbing that police officers who are expected to play a
leading role in upholding the law and mandated to protect citizens
against criminal activities are the very same ones who are
perpetrators.

Chapter 11 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
(Act 108 of 1996) stipulates that the South African Police Service has
a responsibility amongst others to -
o       prevent, combat and investigate crime;
o       protect and secure the inhabitants of the Republic and their
property; and
o       uphold and enforce the law.
If any is to go by these police criminal acts are a smack to the
constitutional mandate of the SAPS.

Given the recent acts of violence against foreign nationals in some
parts of Gauteng we cannot afford a repeat in the Northern Cape least
from the men and women in blue. We condemn these criminal activities
by the police in the strongest possible sense.

It does not help either that a preliminary research report by South
African Institute for Race Relations into the extent to which police
officers are involved in planning and executing serious and violent
crimes indicates that there has not been any decline or change in the
last four years.

The DA is pleased that criminal charges have been laid against the
three police officers and we will follow this case closely and see to
it that those in the wrong face the full might of the law.

 

Issued by DA