Allegations against senior police officers devastating to SAPS members, says Popcru

THE Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has weighed on the revelations implicating Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in a criminal syndicate, saying allegations of wrongdoing against senior officials and ministers undermine accountability across the entire police service. 

“When individuals at the highest levels are accused of corruption, it tends to influence junior officers negatively. It implies that if wrongdoing is committed at the top, junior officers may feel that no one would be in a position to call them to order when they also engage in misconduct. This generally creates a ripple effect throughout the entire service. After all, who can reprimand them when the most senior officials are themselves accused of wrongdoing? That’s a serious problem,” said Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo.  

The police union’s comments come in the wake of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s statement that a powerful criminal syndicate linked to politicians, prosecutors, judges, and senior police officials had been uncovered during ongoing investigations.

Mkhwanazi also accused Mchunu of orchestrating the abrupt disbandment of the provincial political killings task team without consultation, sparking rising tensions.  The unit had been investigating high-profile assassinations. 

In March, 121 case dockets were suddenly taken away from the task team and later shelved at police headquarters in Pretoria, said Mkhwanazi. 

Mamabolo called on all members to remain committed to upholding the rule of law under “extremely challenging conditions”, to continue the fight against crime and corruption and ensure the environments they work under are not compromised.

“It is essential that no stone be left unturned in determining the full scope of the issues raised, holding those found responsible accountable, and restoring public confidence in SAPS leadership,” said Popcru.

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) voiced concern about the safety and protection of public servants who risk speaking out against wrongdoing.

“Whistle-blowers are often the first and most critical line of defence against corruption and maladministration. The Federation calls on government departments and oversight bodies to ensure that no official who acts in good faith is threatened, intimidated, unfairly suspended, or removed from their position for simply doing what the Constitution and our laws require of them," Fedusa said.

The organisation added that the allegations, which point to possible interference, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power at the highest levels, cannot be treated as "ordinary administrative concerns". 

The union called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the claims. 

Anglican archbishop Thabo Makgoba said: "The leadership crisis in policing in South Africa leaves the public confused about whether either the accusers or the accused are capable of protecting us from crime. The allegations being flung around are serious and worrying, and threaten to undermine even further both police morale and public confidence in policing.

"We cannot wait for a drawn-out commission of inquiry. We need an urgent and impartial preliminary inquiry, to be conducted by judges, external policing experts and investigators - all of unimpeachable integrity - to assess the situation and to advise the President, and report to Parliament, on the way ahead within six weeks."

The matter is expected to top Ramaphosa’s agenda upon his return from the XVII BRICS Summit in Brazil.

Cape Times