The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa notes and welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal which dismissed Frederick Barend van Der Vyver’s claim against the Minister of Police today.
Van der Vyver had been charged with the murder of a young woman, Ms Inge Lotz on 16 March 2005, but was acquitted. He decided to claim damages to the tune of R30 million against the Minister of Police. The judgement dealt only with the merits of the claim and not with the quantum.
The judgement vindicates the South African Police (SAPS). Although the High Court had found that aspects of the investigation were less than satisfactory, the SAPS had clearly not been malicious or negligent in the investigation of the murder of Lotz as a whole.
The SAPS will continue to employ the highest professional standards when dealing with all crimes reported to it and will continue to find ways of enhancing its investigative techniques and capabilities in order to combat and prevent crime, whilst making South Africa safer and more secure.
The Minister also noted that many commentators had stated without fully taking all the facts into account that there had been a miscarriage of justice. There was no such miscarriage and in fact, this judgment confirms that the truth has prevailed and the Court made the correct decision.
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