Police Portfolio chairperson calls for suspension of arrested SAPS officers
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to suspend all members of the police service who have been arrested over the past week.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, has called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to suspend all members of the police service who have been arrested over the past week, pending the finalisation of internal investigations.
“The sanctity of the investigations is dependent not only on justice being done, but also on the appearance that justice is done,” Cameron said. “It is essential for the credibility of the investigations as well as the SAPS reputation that arrested senior officers are suspended until the conclusion of the investigations.”
His remarks follow the arrests of several senior SAPS officials, including those from the Crime Intelligence (CI) division. Cameron raised concern over what he described as a lax approach by SAPS in dealing with officers implicated in serious wrongdoing.
He said the SAPS had “in the recent past taken a nonchalant attitude towards errant officers, returning them to work despite serious criminal charges.”
While acknowledging the principle that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, he said: “Investigations must be completed urgently to ensure that only fit and proper individuals serve within the SAPS.”
Cameron said the arrests within the Crime Intelligence service have revealed the extent of alleged internal corruption. “The arrest of senior officers within the Crime Intelligence service has laid bare the level of rot within the environment. This has a chilling effect when considering the centrality of CI in combating crime in the country,” he said.
“It is clear that a major pillar to fight crime has been disabled through rogue officers who are inclined to act criminally.”
He said a comprehensive skills audit was necessary across SAPS leadership and that additional oversight measures should be introduced.
“It is on this basis that a skills audit within the senior echelons of SAPS is necessary. Also, periodic lifestyle audits must be undertaken, especially in the CI environment and senior management of SAPS.”
Cameron said the committee would remain firm in its oversight role. “We will continue to insist that every rogue officer must be removed from the service to protect the reputation of the service.”
The committee is expected to convene soon to assess the implications of the arrests and the internal processes to be followed.