Media Statement issued by the Ministry of Police
Minister of Police Bheki Cele has with great concern noted comments from the office of the Public Protector, civil organisations and various media platforms, about how the Ministry of Police and the South African Police Service has dealt with the matter of whistle blowers pertaining to the investigation into allegations of undue delay and gross negligence which could have resulted in loss of lives, maladministration and improper conduct.
The Ministry of Police and the South African Police Service is mandated by section 205 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa to prevent, combat and investigate crime and maintain public order, this mandate we take very serious irrespective of who is involved.
The South African Police Service recently launched an Anti-Corruption Strategy on the 29th of June 2018, as a demonstration of our commitment to rooting out corruption within our ranks and maladministration. As a result our very own police members have been arrested, who have been implicated in a number of criminal allegations.
The Ministry of Police and the South African Police Service does not intend and it is not our practice to ventilate our judiciary review report in the public arena, because of the respect of the rule of law and administration of justice in general.
However it is important to mention that the Public Protector has in our respective view misdirected herself in the understanding of the role of the SAPS in the terms of the provision of Protection and Security Services and the role of the Department of Justice as the custodian of providing witness protection program for whistle blowers and witnesses. The Ministry of Police and the SAPS finds this extremely unfortunate, on the basis that most public comments against the SAPS are premised on this misunderstanding.
Enquiries:
Reneilwe Serero
Cell: 071 492 0073
