Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police has expressed shock at discovering that police in Mafikeng grant bail to people arrested for serious crimes like assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property.
The committee has called for a full investigation into this matter which was discovered when proof of payment books, for bail, were scrutinised during an oversight visit to the Mafikeng police station yesterday. "We need a full, detailed investigation and report on this matter. If it was one case we would understand that it was a mistake but the entire bail receipt book is filled with these incidents," said Committee chairperson Ms Sindi Chikunga.
The committee was also shocked to discover that the bail conditions file at the community service centre was also not properly managed. For instance, the file has papers that need to be signed but does not explain the conditions under which people are granted bail. Things like how often a person needs to present themselves to the station to sign are not accompanying the paper the person signs on.
"We cannot tell if the people reporting as required by their bail conditions are meeting those conditions that they were released on," said Chikunga.
Officials present could not explain how this situation was possible. "If you go through the file carefully there might be crimes committed there," said Chikunga.
Other incidences observed include that of a person who has been an awaiting trial detainee for two years and nine months at the station cells. Committee members found contraband, shoe laces, and shaving blades in some cells at the station. The committee found that there were 59 case dockets that went missing at the station. There are investigations initiated on the missing dockets but it is not clear what will happen afterwards.
Also, there is a space limitation where the dockets are kept and the office is soon going to run out of room to keep the dockets. However, there are no plans to deal with this eventuality. The committee acknowledged that there were South African Police Service (SAPS) members at the station who were doing a great job despite these challenges. "We urge them to continue being a beacon of hope at the station," said Ms Chikunga.
The Committee is on an oversight visit to the North West this week and will be visiting the following police stations: Itsoseng on Tuesday, Stella on Wednesday, Potchefstroom on Thursday and Bedwang on Friday.
For enquiries or interviews with Ms Chikunga, contact:
Modise Kabeli
Tel: 021 403 3403
Cell: 082 077 4682
E-mail: mkabeli@parliament.gov.za
