Parliament wants dodgy cops removed

PARLIAMENT wants a clean-up in the police force, with the portfolio committee demanding the removal of more than 1 448 officers with criminal records.

Chairperson Francois Beukman said it was vital that members were above board to instil confidence in the public.

The problem of the 1 448 corrupt police officers has been going on for several years. It first arose in 2013 when then police minister Nathi Mthethwa ordered an audit of the police.

The audit uncovered that 1 448 officers had been found guilty of serious crimes including murder, rape, theft, assault, corruption and attempted murder.

Most of the police officers were found guilty after joining the SAPS.

At least 64 of the officers were from police headquarters in Pretoria.

In the list presented in Parliament, 716 were warrant officers, 267 sergeants, 129 constables, 21 colonels, 10 majors, 84 lieutenants, 43 lieutenant-colonels, 10 brigadiers, two personnel officers and one major-general.

Beukman said the committee was now waiting for another audit from the police on February 1 when they appear in Parliament.

He said that when head of human resources in the police Bonang Mgwenya briefed them in October last year, she said of the 1 448 officers, 226 have since retired.

This followed the decision of the unions earlier to challenge their dismissal in court.

After the audit was released, the police fired the officers, but the unions challenged the dismissals in court.

The court ruled in favour of the officers, saying the fitness boards were not properly constituted and should be done away with.

The police in turn appealed the decision in court.

He said that when it meets the top brass on February 1, the matter would be raised.

“The impression I got from the national commissioner, Lieutenant-General Kehla Sitole, is to clean up the SAPS. It is important the SAPS deals with the issue to instil confidence in the public.

“It is vital that members of the police are above board and there must be no criminal elements,” said Beukman.

He said the latest audit from the police will be able to tell them how many officers had criminal records including those who were dismissed.

Parliament has been raising the issue since it came up five years ago and Mthethwa had acted at the time.

Beukman said the committee wanted the matter to be finalised speedily as the country needed a clean SAPS.

It is vital that members are above board. There must be no criminal elements