Less than a month since the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu claimed that some police officers have “bowed down to crime”, at least six officers have been arrested for crimes including robbery, rape and possession of stolen goods.
Six police officers bust for crimes
On Friday last week, four police officers stationed in the Mountain Rise Police station were arrested and are to face 51 counts of fraud. In the same week, a Chatsworth police officer was arrested for rape. Another police officer was arrested as part of suspects who are alleged to have murdered a retired career civil servant Dr Warwick Dorning.
Bad advert
Said Mchunu, “These officers, although innocent until proven guilty, are a negative advertisement for the men and women in blue. We need and we must have upright officers. These undesirable persons within the police force give me sleepless nights. We must find a way to permanently remove them.” Explaining that he is not in charge of the police and only works to support and oversee their work, Mchunu pledged to urgently bring these issues to the attention National Police Commissioner, Minister of Police and the newly appointed Provincial Commissioner.
South African Police Service (SAPS) integrity must be jealously guarded
He said “Extremely pleasing is that the police are able to arrest their own without fear or favour. We would like to see more dedication from ordinary police officers in rooting out crime and corruption within their ranks. The SAPS are our first and last line of defence; hence we must jealously guard its integrity. We must in condemning the few rotten potatoes always heap praise on many police officers who on daily basis are engaged in pitch battles with armed thugs.”
Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
7 December 2009
Source: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kzncomsafety.gov.za/)
