Guilty cops get slap on the wrist
|Published
Cape Town - Written warnings, R200 fines and dismissals suspended for six months are some of the “trivial” sanctions against police officers who had been involved in crimes like attempted murder, rape and assault.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (Ipid) annual report outlines its recommendations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) - after completion of every investigation it had conducted.
“Where there is evidence of wrongdoing, recommendations are forwarded to the NPA who, based on the evidence at hand, will make a decision whether or not to institute criminal proceedings against the suspect(s),” the report stated.
Of 1 470 criminal recommendations referred by Ipid to the NPA, responses are still pending for 1 412 cases.
Of 884 disciplinary recommendations made to the SAPS by the Ipid, a total of 135 disciplinary convictions were reported.
Disciplinary action included a final written warning for rape, dismissal suspended for six months for charges including rape, attempted murder, assault, misconduct and malicious damage to property, and written warnings for charges including negligence of duty, common assault, intent to do grievous bodily harm, arson and death in police custody.
The report states that “one of the areas of concern for the Ipid is the trivial disciplinary sanctions meted out by the SAPS to members who are convicted of serious offences”. These include written and verbal warnings, suspended dismissals, fines of R500 or less and dismissal from service.
“The effect of such inappropriate sanctions is to trivialise the seriousness of the offences and makes a mockery of the disciplinary processes,” the report said.
The Cape Times approached Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko for comment about the Ipid’s recommendations, disciplinary measures and convictions and plans to eliminate crime within the police force, but his reply had not arrived by the time of publication.
However, he wrote in his foreword in the annual report that the Ipid was “struggling under the burden of work” due to “vacant leadership positions and capacity challenges”. He said the report demonstrated that “investigations did take place and matters were taken to the courts”.
Cape Times