Eastern Cape police fork out R62.8m in civil claims

Nearly R63m — that is the amount paid out by the Eastern Cape SA Police Service in the first 10 months of the 2019/2020 financial year for a variety of civil claims ranging from wrongful arrest and detention to assault, defamation and damage to property.

The figure of R62.8m is R17m more than the previous financial year, according to DA MPL Bobby Stevenson.

According to Stevenson, the payouts were for 658 claims that had been finalised, with 8,216 claims still pending against the provincial SAPS.

The figures were revealed in response to questions posed to safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe by Stevenson, when it was revealed that 1,840 claims had been lodged against the Eastern Cape SAPS during the 10-month period.

These included 1,166 for wrongful arrest and detention, 80 for collisions, 54 for wrongful search and seizures, 206 for assault, 80 for shootings, four for loss or damage to property, 104 for defamation, 11 for negligence, 132 for police action requiring general compensation of special damages, and eight other unspecified cases.

“The breakdown of claims paints a picture of the police service that is clearly not upholding the law and respecting the rights of people,” Stevenson said.

In written responses, Tikana-Gxothiwe confirmed that, during the 2018/2019 financial year, R45m in claims was paid out, with a total amount of pending claims set at R2.3bn.

Even more concerning was that claims against the SAPS could escalate exponentially based on reports of heavyhanded police tactics since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown, that had already seen 18,465 people arrested for contravention of lockdown regulations in the province, Stevenson said.

“The provincial police commissioner needs to account to the Eastern Cape legislature on what steps are being taken to arrest this trend,” Stevenson said.

In her written responses, Tikana-Gxothiwe said successful as well as adverse judgments were circulated in policing clusters to create greater awareness among SAPS members, and that monthly civil claims reports were distributed and discussed at relevant platforms.

“Operational commanders are now assessed in respect of civil claims determined to be undefendable and instituted against the minister [of police],” Tikana-Gxothiwe said.

Tikana-Gxothiwe’s spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, confirmed the written responses.