Almost every day on average a police officer in the Eastern Cape faces a criminal case – although most are found not guilty.
This is more than double the number of police officers changed than in the previous year.
Charges include rape, murder and corruption, according to safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance, Tikana said 308 police officers in the province had criminal charges laid against them during 2014-15.
The charges included 26 cases of corruption, 73 of fraud, 22 for allowing a prisoner to escape, 31 for drunk driving, 23 for negligent loss of a firearm, 11 for rape and 11 for murder.
Of the 308 seven were convicted.
According to police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) cases opened against the province’s police rose by 102% in 2012-13 from 2011-12.
Tikana made her written submissions last Monday to DA MPL Marshall von Buchenroder.
In the past four months the Daily Dispatch reported on three cases where police officers in the East London cluster were alleged to be on the wrong side of the law. They were:
lDuncan Village Detective Constable Suneel Bellochun arrested in the East London CBD for corruption by the Hawks. Bellochun of the Criminal Investigation Division was given R500 bail in the East London Magistrate’s Court and remains on suspension pending his trial.
lIn February, two detectives from Mdantsane police with more than 30 years of experience between them were arrested on charges of corruption by the Hawks. Warrant Officer Xolani Senti, 42, and Constable Siyabulela Folokwe, 32 are also out on bail of R1000 each. They were not suspended although their cases are continuing.
lIn March, Detective Constable Mzoxolo Ntsika from the East London Police Station was arrested for drunk driving at a roadblock staffed by Tikana and provincial police commissioner General Celiwe Binta.
Another case was a Matatiele officer arrested in August by his colleagues and charged with raping his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Von Buchenroder said serious crimes were being committed by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“The SAPS is the last place where criminals should be lurking. It only serves to forfeit the public’s trust and tarnish the good name of hardworking officers who work under trying circumstances.
“If the SAPS are to enjoy the public’s full trust, the criminals in their ranks need to be removed.”
He said the DA would continue to monitor the issue and ask further questions on steps being taken.
The chairman of the portfolio committee on safety and liaison at the Bhisho legislature, Michael Peter, yesterday expressed concern over the figures. He said more worrying was the general decline in police confidence among communities.
“The number of police officers caught in wrongdoing in this province is alarmingly high and this is of concern to us because it goes against the spirit of service delivery in our communities,” Peter said.
“While the committee is impressed by community policing forums and street committees that work with police, we feel this recent revelation will strain working relations.”
Provincial chairman of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Loyiso Mdingi said they were not fazed by the figures.
“Most of the crimes opened against police were committed while they were executing their jobs – sometimes suspects resist being arrested and our members have to use maximum force and we will defend them,” Mdingi said. Where an officer committed murder, the victim was usually a spouse, he added.
“The stressful work environment is a contributing factor to a police officer committing murder and hence we always request that they be assisted psychologically.”
Mdingi said the law must play its part where officers are arrested for corruption or robbery.
In 2013 the safety and liaison department revealed there were 1448 officers, including hundreds in high ranks, countrywide with criminal records. Of these, 264 were from the Eastern Cape. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
More cops up for crime
This is more than double the number of police officers changed than in the previous year.
Charges include rape, murder and corruption, according to safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance, Tikana said 308 police officers in the province had criminal charges laid against them during 2014-15.
The charges included 26 cases of corruption, 73 of fraud, 22 for allowing a prisoner to escape, 31 for drunk driving, 23 for negligent loss of a firearm, 11 for rape and 11 for murder.
Of the 308 seven were convicted.
According to police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) cases opened against the province’s police rose by 102% in 2012-13 from 2011-12.
Tikana made her written submissions last Monday to DA MPL Marshall von Buchenroder.
In the past four months the Daily Dispatch reported on three cases where police officers in the East London cluster were alleged to be on the wrong side of the law. They were:
lDuncan Village Detective Constable Suneel Bellochun arrested in the East London CBD for corruption by the Hawks. Bellochun of the Criminal Investigation Division was given R500 bail in the East London Magistrate’s Court and remains on suspension pending his trial.
lIn February, two detectives from Mdantsane police with more than 30 years of experience between them were arrested on charges of corruption by the Hawks. Warrant Officer Xolani Senti, 42, and Constable Siyabulela Folokwe, 32 are also out on bail of R1000 each. They were not suspended although their cases are continuing.
lIn March, Detective Constable Mzoxolo Ntsika from the East London Police Station was arrested for drunk driving at a roadblock staffed by Tikana and provincial police commissioner General Celiwe Binta.
Another case was a Matatiele officer arrested in August by his colleagues and charged with raping his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Von Buchenroder said serious crimes were being committed by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“The SAPS is the last place where criminals should be lurking. It only serves to forfeit the public’s trust and tarnish the good name of hardworking officers who work under trying circumstances.
“If the SAPS are to enjoy the public’s full trust, the criminals in their ranks need to be removed.”
He said the DA would continue to monitor the issue and ask further questions on steps being taken.
The chairman of the portfolio committee on safety and liaison at the Bhisho legislature, Michael Peter, yesterday expressed concern over the figures. He said more worrying was the general decline in police confidence among communities.
“The number of police officers caught in wrongdoing in this province is alarmingly high and this is of concern to us because it goes against the spirit of service delivery in our communities,” Peter said.
“While the committee is impressed by community policing forums and street committees that work with police, we feel this recent revelation will strain working relations.”
Provincial chairman of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Loyiso Mdingi said they were not fazed by the figures.
“Most of the crimes opened against police were committed while they were executing their jobs – sometimes suspects resist being arrested and our members have to use maximum force and we will defend them,” Mdingi said. Where an officer committed murder, the victim was usually a spouse, he added.
“The stressful work environment is a contributing factor to a police officer committing murder and hence we always request that they be assisted psychologically.”
Mdingi said the law must play its part where officers are arrested for corruption or robbery.
In 2013 the safety and liaison department revealed there were 1448 officers, including hundreds in high ranks, countrywide with criminal records. Of these, 264 were from the Eastern Cape. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos