SAPS to use all force to fight corruption

Police Minister Bheki Cele launched the South African Police Service (SAPS) Anti-Corruption Strategy at the SAPS Academy in Tshwane in July.

The launch was in line with reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to combatting fraud and corruption within its ranks.

Cele said those who are charged with the responsibility of dealing with corruption must rise and do their work.

“I am tired of police officers who do not serve the people. Every energy we have must be used to fight corruption,” he said.

Cele appealed to members of the public to use the anti-corruption hotline to report any form of corruption. He also supported the idea of having a database of people convicted of corruption.

The Anti-Corruption Strategy sets out strategic objectives to be pursued by SAPS management to prevent and combat corruption within SAPS. The strategy is based on five broad pillars: leadership, prevention of corruption, detection of corruption, investigating corruption and resolution of corruption.

In line with government prescripts such as Chapter 2 of the Public Service Regulations 2016, the SAPS has developed and implemented the SAPS Employment Regulations Act of 2017.

The regulations, among other things, prohibit SAPS members from conducting business with any organ of the state. SAPS has also implemented a national instruction which prohibits SAPS members from conducting remunerative work outside the SAPS the following fields: the taxi industry, the liquor industry and in the security industry, among a host of other work.