An exposé by the Pretoria News of allegations of torture, assault, kidnapping, extortion and widespread corruption within the Tshwane Metro Police has led to a major shake-up of the city’s law-enforcement agency.
The shake-up, which is believed to have led to the removal of senior metro police officers from their posts and the breaking up of so-called criminal cliques within various units, was revealed by acting city manager Oupa Nkoane in an interview with the Pretoria News.
The exposé was part of an investigation by the Pretoria News and Eyewitness News, which also revealed the disappearance of Zimbabwean teenager Leon Chimatu, who was still missing six weeks after he was last seen with metro cops.
Chimatu disappeared after he and his brother, James, along with four other Zimbabwean hawkers, were allegedly kidnapped by metro police officers when they went to reclaim their goods that had been confiscated during a metro police by-law enforcement operation.
His disappearance, along with the other criminal allegations, prompted a separate investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate, the SAPS and Lawyers for Human Rights.
These three investigations are running alongside investigations by the TMPD internal investigations unit.
Since the exposé, four metro police members have been arrested, two on allegations of corruption and two in connection with Leon’s disappearance.
The exposé revealed that nearly 30 percent of metro police officers were under investigation, with more than 350 dockets opened against some of the organisation’s estimated 1 300 policemen and women.
Investigations revealed that more than 40 percent of those being investigated were members based in Region 6, the city centre area that includes Sunnyside, Hatfield, Marabastad and surrounding areas.
It is Region 6 that has come under the greatest scrutiny following allegations of TMPD members using strong-arm tactics such as assaults, kidnappings and torture to extort money from motorists, hawkers and those using prostitutes.
Nkoane said the allegations had “shocked” the municipality and had sparked a chain reaction.
“This chain reaction had led to the shake-up of the metro police,” he said.
“We are serious about rooting out corruption in the metro police. It is the task of newly appointed head General Mahlomola Manganye to implement a turn-around strategy.”
Nkoane said the scourge around ill-discipline could be attributed to the lack of leadership that had built up over the years. Metro police spokesman Mel Vosloo confirmed the shake-up and said that Manganye had started with “reorganising of particularly Region 6 in the light of a number of events that took place there and is still contemplating other moves and procedures that have to be put in place”.
DA community safety spokeswoman Karen Meyer welcomed the action. “This is a positive move,” she said.
Meyer said Manganye had shown the will to turn things around in the metro police.
Last Tuesday, Manganye condemned the action of metro police officers who tore up a Blue Bulls rugby jersey outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The officers had attended the court case of rugby player Bees Roux, who was arrested in connection with the killing of metro police officer Johannes Mogale.
Manganye said the officers engaged in an unprofessional and undisciplined act of tearing up a Blue Bulls rugby jersey.
He apologised in writing to Blue Bulls Rugby Union, further stating that the case would be investigated and the participants would be severely reprimanded.
Meyer said: “From his response, one can see that he is really trying to turn things around.”
She said it was important that all the metro police officers supported Manganye.
“Personal issues must be put aside and officers should focus on their job,” she said.
According to Meyer, issues affecting the metro police were expected to be ironed out at a three-day bosberaad that was due to start today.
It would be attended by senior metro officers and members of the council’s portfolio committee on community safety. - Pretoria News