Cops fingered for domestic abuse
Oversight body reveals that 132 officers were perpetrators
“Because it (certain things) is not covered within the proclamation, if we start investigating people might say ‘No, are you going outside of the proclamation?’,” Kganyago said.
“We are the ones who wrote an extension to say now in our investigation we find that some of the things lead us to this and therefore can we be given an opportunity to investigate that?” he said.
He also said the amendment was based on the SIU motivation that was made to the Justice Department and then signed by Ramaphosa.
“The mere fact that there is an extension is a sign that we are progressing in what we do.”
Kganyago also said the SIU had not made recoveries yet on any of the City’s contracts. “In the meantime when we investigate and we find criminality, we take that to NPA and when people need to be disciplined, we take it to the City in this case, and our investigators are called as witnesses.”
Kganyago explained that referrals to the NPA and the City of Joburg would be done before and after the recoveries were made.
Asked why the SIU probe was broadened to go beyond Fire Raiders Limited, Kganyago said they did not investigate people or companies.
“We investigate the processes,” he said.
This takes place against reports of the City being mired in a R1.2 billion Joburg fleet contract.
Questions have been raised about the fleet contract awarded to Afrirent, the company that received a 30-month, R1.2bn contract to supply more than 2 700 vehicles.
Kganyago said the SIU would leave no stone unturned in their investigations. “We are going to do our work without fear or favour. Everyone who has done wrong will be dealt with,” he said.
A CIVILIAN Secretariat for Police Service report has found that 132 officers from 96 police stations were perpetrators of domestic violence.
The oversight body revealed this in its report covering the period between January 2017 and December 2017, which was tabled to Parliament last week.
The report looked into compliance of the SAPS with the Domestic Violence Act at 1 143 police stations.
The report found that 72 disciplinary processes had been initiated against the officers with corrective counselling and final written warnings imposed as sanctions.
“There are also instances where there were no steps taken, however the reasons for not taking steps could not be established.”
According to the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, 58 criminal cases had been opened against the officers.
“There’s an extension as we’re progressing in what we do Kaizer Kganyago SIU spokesperson
BALDWIN NDABA
THE Gauteng provincial government under Premier David Makhura has put on hold the dissolution of the City of Tshwane pending approval from the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and the National Council of Provinces.
This was in contradiction to the announcement made last week during Makhura’s address to the media that the dissolution of the Tshwane Metro was with immediate effect. He also announced he was due to name a new administrator and officials to assist him or her on Thursday this week.
Makhura’s spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga, said yesterday the planned City of Tshwane’s Council meeting tomorrow would be to discuss if the election of a new mayor, the adoption of the adjustment budget and
There were 19 cases withdrawn at court and 22 others withdrawn by complainants.
“One of the main challenges with domestic violence cases is the high rate of withdrawals.”
The report also revealed that there were officers who had protection orders issued against them.
At the time of the police station visits, 44 officers had interim protection orders and 24 final protection orders.
The report said firearms were seized from 65 officers, and 38 were subjected to inquiry in line with the Firearm Control Act (FCA), and nine members were declared unfit to possess firearms.
“An area of concern with regard to management of SAPS firearms is the lack of non-compliance to the FCA by some police stations,” the report read, adding that there were members who had final protection orders who were not subjected to inquiries.
“In one police station, a member was given an option to book the firearm the appointment of an acting municipal manager were legitimate. Mhaga said the dissolution of the City of Tshwane would only take effect after 14 days if Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) had concurred with his provincial cabinet decision.
In his address to the media, when required,” the report read.
It also said the seizure of firearms from officers accused of domestic violence meant that they could only carry out administrative duties and not be involved in operations.
“This puts the SAPS in a serious dilemma considering the shortages of manpower in the majority of police stations.
“It therefore requires SAPS management to vigorously attend to the management of members who are offenders and those who are victims.”
The report also found that 66 police officers were victims of domestic violence – 28 males and 38 females.
The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service also found that the SAPS was putting measures in place to improve the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act.
“Management of members who fail to comply with the Domestic Violence Act and the national instruction is still an area where the SAPS management is
Makhura repeatedly said the dissolution was immediate. He also said that he would announce the person to take over the reins, including officials to assist him or her.
Yesterday, however, Makhura made an about-turn, saying that “following the decision to invoke Section 139(1) (c) of the Constitution to dissolve the Tshwane Municipal Council and place it under administration, the Gauteng Provincial Executive Council is undertaking a process of informing various stakeholders on this decision”.
“The process of appointing the administrator is under way but he/she will only assume official duties after 14 days, once there is concurrence from the minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Council of Provinces,” Makhura said.
He said his provincial cabinet had written notices to the Minister of struggling.” It found that the majority of non-compliance was due to failure by members to carry out administrative obligations.
“A total of 216 non-compliances were reported, of which 198 were administrative and 18 related to poor service delivery.”
The report also found that out of the 1 143 stations, 929 had recorded levels of significant compliance, with only 21 achieving full compliance.
“The majority of the police stations had the relevant registers required at the community service centres, however, there are police stations that do not have these registers.”
It added that 66% of the 1 143 police stations had functional and resourced victim-friendly rooms.
“Some of the stations have partnered with local non-governmental organisations in order to provide a broader psycho-social service.
“Across the police stations, 67% of those were able to serve protection orders on time,” the report said.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (Amos Masondo), the speaker of the Provincial Legislature (Ntombi Mekgwe) and the speaker of the Tshwane Council (Katlego Mathebe).
Legal expert Professor Mbuzeni Mathenjwa, who specialises in constitutional law and local government law at Unisa, said the next phase of the provision to finally dissolve the municipality would only come into effect after 14 days “unless it has been approved by the minister and the National Council of Provinces”.
In Pretoria, however, Makhura announced the dissolution before informing Dlamini Zuma and Masondo.
The DA has temporarily suspended its intended legal action against the dissolution pending the content of the written notices.