According to the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, 459 police officers in Gauteng currently have criminal cases open against them. These cases range from, reckless and negligent driving, common assault, assault with intentions to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder, theft, house and business robbery, fraud, corruption, bribery and domestic violence.
Mazibuko said the top three stations with the most offenders are the Tsakane police station with 35 police officers currently under investigation for theft, common assault and reckless and negligent driving.
“This is followed by the Krugersdorp police station with 28 police officers all charged with reckless and negligent driving.
“At number three, the Benoni and Hekpoort police stations have 15 police officers, where the Benoni station officers are under investigation for reckless and negligent driving, attempted murder, and theft while the Hekpoort police officers are charged with common assault and assault with intentions to cause grievous bodily harm,” added Mazibuko.
Democratic Alliances said that it is a clear indication that SAPS is failing in its responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate crime as well as ensuring that police officers uphold the rule of law instead of breaking it.
DA added that it is high time that the current national government responds to DA’s demand to do a complete overhaul of SAPS by curbing corruption, hiring people with a passion for policing, and retaining good police officers to make the police service honest, professional and one that serves and protects the people.
Furthermore, the DA said that it will continue to hold both MEC Mazibuko and Gauteng SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela to account to ensure that the police officers adhere to the SAPS code of conduct and always abide by the law.
“There should be an urgent intervention strategy in those top policer stations severely affected to ensure that officers abide by the SAPS code of conduct and maintain a high standard of discipline and professionalism,” added the DA.
