The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman, has urged the National Commissioner of Police to redouble efforts to deal with corrupt members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and those who are implicated in organised crime.
“The National Commissioner of Police should move faster to deal with corrupt cops and those who are allegedly involved in criminal enterprises. The Portfolio Committee is very concerned that currently several SAPS members have been arrested and there are serious allegations against high-ranking SAPS members before the courts, but SAPS management is not taking pro-active and appropriate disciplinary steps,” Mr Beukman said.
The National Commissioner should ensure that credibly is restored to the SAPS disciplinary system with immediate effect.
The Portfolio Committee has noted with grave concern:
- the arrest of SAPS members at Beit bridge;
- the arrest of SAPS members for serious crimes, including murder;
- serious allegations against senior SAPS generals in a bail application in the Cape Town Magistrate Court.
The Portfolio Committee on Police welcomes the recent breakthroughs by the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI/Hawks) in the arrest of SAPS members allegedly involved in criminal activity.
The Committee commends the excellent work of the DPCI in this regard. The Portfolio Committee on Police is still awaiting the Ledwaba report on disciplinary matters within crime intelligence and the HR report on the more than 1 400 SAPS members with criminal records, which was requested by the Portfolio Committee in October 2017.
Furthermore, the new SAPS management must work harder on all these matters to ensure that public confidence in their abilities does not falter.
Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman