Overhauling the current police recruitment processes may be the answer to ridding the service of “bad cops”, says a former provincial police commissioner as 11 alleged extortionists – including eight police members and a former cop – are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
Seven of the officers attached to public order policing were arrested for extortion-related crimes over the weekend. They are accused of extorting two shop owners shops in Milnerton.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut said it is alleged that the members, accompanied by a suspect in civilian clothes, took an undisclosed amount of cash from the two shops, allegedly as protection money. After the incident was reported to police, members of the Anti-Corruption Unit and Provincial Detectives arrested the suspects while they were on duty on Sunday.
An eighth officer attached to the same unit was arrested on Monday night in Harare, Khayelitsha along with three civilians. Among the civilians was a former cop.
They are expected to appear in court on Wednesday on charges of extortion, business robbery and corruption.
Speaking to Cape Times on Tuesday, former Western Cape police commissioner Advocate Lennit Max said the police recruitment system was failing society.
“These are police officers who took an oath of service to enforce the law and serve our communities. It happens now frequently and increasingly with clear indication that the police recruitment system fails South Africa. They are now recruiting criminals into their own ranks and as a result, they are infringing the rights of the citizens who they are supposed to protect.
“These are not isolated incidents, it has become a practice.
“Now you don’t know who you must fear or who one must trust. It is sometimes better to have the criminal with you than the police because you don’t know which one is going to be worse,” said Max.
Citing a Human Sciences Research Council report which found that in the 2010-2021 period, public trust in the police was at its lowest in the Western Cape when it dipped to 27%, from 34% in 2020, Max said: “That is damaging the image of the SAPS nationally.
People don’t trust the police anymore and the discipline within the police ranks is non-existent. It is a crisis and my recommendation is that there must be an overhaul of the police management and the recruitment. The scrutiny at entry level must also be tightened. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel that these bad apples are being arrested by their colleagues. There should also be exams to make them eligible for promotions. If you do not know the law, you cannot enforce the law and the application of discipline must be done.”
Crime expert, Calvin Rafadi said communities can still have trust in the police as “the black sheep” were being arrested by their own.
“Organised crime in the top brass must be investigated thoroughly which includes pulling up cell phone data and bank statements which could lead them to other crimes possibly committed.
“It sends a strong message to those who want to follow suit and want to commit crimes under the banner of SAPS. Lifestyle audits should also be done. We support the ones who are still doing good but the black sheep need to be dealt with decisively,” said Rafadi.
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais, and Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku, said extortion is a crime gaining momentum across the country, and the Western Cape is not immune.
“We urge anyone with information about extortion in any form to come forward and report it to the SAPS. Confidentiality is assured, and reports can be made anonymously via the toll-free SAPS extortion hotline.”
Sileku singled out the minibus taxi industry as a cornerstone of the Western Cape’s public transport system, saying any disruption caused by extortion not only jeopardises livelihoods, but also places an unnecessary burden on commuters.
“We call on all those affected to report any extortion to the SAPS immediately.”
Extortion-related crimes can be reported to the police toll free extortion hotline, 080 031 4444 or call CrimeStop on 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS app.
Cape Times