By Graeme Hosken
Gauteng is one of the worst provinces when it comes to corrupt and criminal police members.
This has been revealed by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) which is due to table its annual report before parliament later this month.
The ICD's report is currently with Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula for approval.
The disclosures come as both senior police officers and researchers from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) and Institute for Security Studies say corruption and crime are rife in the police service.
The revelations come days after six suspected robbers, including a police officer, were arrested after a multi-million rand robbery in Mpumalanga.
The six, who are believed to be part of an 18-man gang, were arrested on Thursday in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West in connection with the robbery of a courier truck in Witbank last month, in which R4 million worth of goods were stolen.
One of the truck's escort personnel was shot and injured in the robbery.
Police spokesperson Leonard Hlathi told Sapa that another 12 suspects were still at large.
Dikeledi Phiri, ICD spokesperson, said Gauteng was one of the worst provinces when it came to corrupt and criminal police members, with Class One, Three and Four cases being the most serious in the province.
Class One cases relate to deaths in police custody and through police actions. Class Two cases are those referred to the ICD by either the Safety and Security Minister, the President's Office or offices of the provincial safety and security MECs.
Class Three cases relate to cases such as corruption, rape, assault and misconduct, while Class Four cases relate to service delivery whereby members fail to execute their duties such as attending to complaints.
Phiri said: "What is particularly bad in Gauteng is the number of assault cases and other criminal cases, such as corruption, which are being opened against police members in the province."
She said Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape were by far the most problematic provinces when it came to criminal and corrupt police members.
"Over the past number of financial years Gauteng has led the pack when it comes to corrupt and criminal police members.
"We have discovered that police are battling to combat crimes such as robberies and burglaries because the police themselves are the ones involved in the crimes. Such activities make policing difficult for those policemen and women trying to maintain law and order," she said.
Asked how many police members had been investigated for criminal and corrupt activities, Phiri said until the report had been tabled in Parliament she could not reveal the figures.
Several senior Pretoria police officers have confirmed what the ICD is saying.
"Corruption and crime is entrenched in the service. There are problems at all police stations," said a Brooklyn police officer who declined to be named.
Citing how untrustworthy some police members were, he said there were some colleagues he would not work with "even if I was paid to".
In Pretoria News, 09 September 2008
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
