Police Department pays R50m in civil claims

THE SAPS coughed up a whopping R50 million in civil claims that had been lodged during the 2016-17 financial year.

This was revealed by Parliament’s police portfolio committee after it recently scrutinised the annual report and finances of the ministry.

The committee said the money claimed in civil claims against the SAPS constituted almost one-fifth of the budget of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), which amounts to R241m.

“The department should provide details on the cases and whether the claims regarding the families of Marikana victims will be included in the contingent liability of the department, which is already standing at R5 billion.”

In its report, the committee said the police should have a better managerial hold over the high number of civil claims.

“This is an indicator of discipline and consequence management in the SAPS, and the management must put measures in place to improve the professional conduct of police officers.”

The increase in civil claims against the SAPS takes place against the backdrop of contingent liabilities that have ballooned from R4.469bn in claims in 2015-16 to R5.152bn in the financial year ended in March.

During 2016/17, R42m was paid out in civil claims from other departments. This had increased significantly compared to the previous financial year, when only R28.9m was claimed from other departments. In 2016/17, the figure increased to R81.2m.”

Now, the committee wants the police to develop a turnaround strategy to curb the increase of civil claims lodged against the department.

“The committee recommends that the department should indicate the nature and status of consequence management in terms of individuals responsible for civil claims lodged against the department.”

They have to make a submission to the committee.

Meanwhile, the claims against the Civilian Secretariat for Police were reduced from R2.6m in 2015/16 to R104 000 in 2016/17. However, Ipid has seen an increase in its civil claims from R24.5m in 2014/15 to R41.4m in 2015/16. At the end of the financial year under review, the figure stood at R57.2m.