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Pretoria News
Executive Director for Pro-Active Policing Ndumiso Jaca accepts an award from Acting City manager Oupa Nkoame, left, and the Mayor of Tshwane Gwen Ramokgopa at the Tshwane Service Excellence Awards. Photo: Sizwe Ndingane
By Graeme Hosken and Patrick Hlahla
Corruption has become a “hobby” within the Tshwane Metro Police Department). This was revealed in a report by the Institute of Security Studies three years ago.
The report, “City Blues: Corruption and Corruption Management in South Africa’s Metropolitan Police Departments”, dates back to 2007, but nothing, sources in the department said, has changed in the past three years. Corruption remains a problem within the organisation, they said.
The Pretoria News and Eyewitness News in an investigation into alleged corruption within the city council revealed that more than 25 percent of metro police officials – including office-bound staff and those out on operations – were under investigation.
A total of 350 dockets have been opened by the Internal Investigations Unit against the department’s over 1 200 police members.
The report says the department is South Africa’s second largest metro police department with 1 914 employees, 1 220 of whom are police members.
The revelations come as the Independent Complaints Directorate is investigating the operations of an alleged organised crime syndicate within the department’s ranks.
The apparent criminal network, which uses State resources, sees members from the department’s Region 6 using strong arm tactics such as assaults, kidnappings and torture, to extort money from victims who include motorists, those using the services of prostitutes, and hawkers.
Region 6, which apparently accounts for more than 40 percent of investigations into metro police members, is the department’s city centre area of operation. It includes Sunnyside, Hatfield, Marabastad and surrounding areas.
Besides criminal investigations, members are also facing misconduct charges which range from the illegal pointing of firearms, disobeying orders, dereliction of duty and insubordination.
Some of those being investigated are facing multiple investigations while some dockets are for more than one suspect.
The report states that the department’s civilian oversight committee and inspections unit does not believe corruption to be a major problem in the department, but senior managers view it is as a serious problem, particularly at traffic rule enforcement level.
“The Conduct Investigations Unit sees it as a ‘very big’ problem, and states that ‘corruption has become a hobby’.
“According to the investigate unit’s head, traffic-related bribery complaints are received daily, nepotistic bias is prevalent throughout the department and corruption in the licensing department is rife.
“Some control dispatchers allegedly earn R30 000 a week tipping off towing companies about accidents before reporting these over police radios, while some operational officers allegedly earn R6 000 a night extorting money from drunk drivers.”
The report revealed that by the end of 2008 “The Code of Ethics” was meant to be in place, but setting up a complaints desk, hotline and vetting system had been delayed due to a lack of funds.
The lack of funds, a trafficsource said, has also led to vitally needed equipment such as specialised cameras for entrapment operations remaining unavailable, despite repeated promises from the department’s top management that such equipment was a priority.
The report says the unithas been unable to realise its goal of sending a strong message to the bribing public and corruptible policeman.
The report’s author, Andrew Faull, said victim surveys showed the sphere of government officials most receptive to receiving money, favours or gifts in return of service were traffic related members.
“This points a big finger at metro police departments that are responsible for traffic enforcement.
Faull said there appeared to be a pattern with the Gauteng metro policing areas of Tshwane, Ekurhu-leni and Joburg as having the worst reputation when it came to petty roadside corruption. He said recommendations from his paper, calling for various changes to stop corruption, had not been implemented.
“A workshop by the Independent Complaints Directorate and the Institute of Security Studies atten-ded by Tshwane and Ekur-huleni metro chiefs and senior staff dis-cussions showed that metros are facing the same problems as three years ago. Discipline within metro police departments is often handled by the metro councils and those who are disciplined are held accountable to codes of conduct and rules.
“A police chief, who has all the best intentions of stamping out corruption, has his hands tied if disciplinary processes involving council are beyond his control and not conducted timelessly and effectively.”
DA community safety spokeswoman in the Tshwane Metro Council Karen Meyer said the DA submitted an urgent motion to the council in May, based on information the party had received, “in which it appeared that at least 22 percent of the total number of Tshwane metro police officials had either already been convicted, were awaiting trial or disciplinary hearings.
“It is clear proof of the total collapse of our city’s law enforcement. The standard procedures used in the appointment of metro police officials, leaves a lot to be desired.”
Meyer said residents cannot be “saddled with metro police officers” they cannot trust. “The council is not doing anyone a favour by not viewing this growing situation in a serious light, or simply launching an internal investigation. By not addressing the problem correctly it will mean shutting down the whole department at the end of the day.”
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greg, wrote
This is why you have a guy called PIGSPOTTER
Anonymous, wrote
Until corruption is handled the people will never get the benefits that others countries send.
Anonymous, wrote
Corruption a hobby for one police department? This is a trend generalisable across all government departments. My concern is that it is seemingly less than some estimates.
Piet, wrote
All metro police forces should be scrapped - in every city. People warned what could happen when the setting up of metro police was discussed. Our worst fears have been realised. But others thought they would help in the fight "against crime". Metro police are a liability - this must now end.
Joe, wrote
Corruption by the traffic officers on the road is the reason why we have so many people who drive cars without lisences. It is a reason why so many motorists drive under the influence of alchohol and hence so many unnecessary accidents which result in so many deaths. I belive that around 40% of road accidents are as a direct result of drunken driving. But the unfortunate reality is that corruption will be with us forever so long as we are reactive to it. Let us root corruption at the highest level, because the guys on the ground learn from their seniors. How about our politicians? There have been endless corruption allegations against them and nothing much has been done. It is important that the law applies to everyone irrespective of political position or political connectness.
Lway, wrote
Perhaps the SAP should stop handing out "Who wants to be a policeman" flyers out at every shopping centre, for every corrupt criminal to apply for the job and instead screen possible candidates before allowing them into the field. I am in Information Security and here you don't get a job unless you're qualified or have some sort of track record" and my job does not include saving lives and protecting the people. How can any tom dick and harry be a police officer? They all do the same thing - you hand them a little authority and they abuse it. Just this morning i watched in disbelief how police officers skipped a red robot - they came from behind after the light had turned red and came passed me and skipped the robot. Where is the example they are supposed to set? They will NEVER be respected! I'd rather solve my own problems than ever get the police involved. The DA and ANC need to stop their little popularity contests for SA's next Top Model and one of them should take the initiative to fix these problems. I have little faith in either and thinking about starting my own political party because God knows, it cannot be that difficult to deliver on the promises that these 2 parties have been making for years and have never been able to deliver on. I've always loved my country but i've reached a point where i would much rather take my family and go away - when your so called "protection" service will steal your money in exchange for not arresting you - it scares me.
Brian Moreku, wrote
He is a hardwork and deserve it. Good luck Mr Jaca
LizzyE, wrote
Was my previous comment not posted because I "named and shamed" the Metro Cop who did nothing this morning but watch a dangerous situation unfold?
Tjoppie, wrote
Tshwane Service Excellence Awards photo is the funniest ever. Hahahaha
Anonymous, wrote
Well, why am I not surprised. They learnt from the master himself....Mcbride.
Anonymous, wrote
I don't understand what is PIG's job? Cause all they do now is wait next to the bar & catch law abiding citizen's instead of chasing criminals. Had a friend of mine who is a PIG, he told me that if they receive a callbroadcast about crime they take a different since they won't get any money & they will be risking their lives... To be honest i clearly don't see their use in the community other than a pure job creation. Extortion, bribery rules in that department. I always have extra cash (e.g. R50)in car drawer... I think in the last month i payed over R500 in bribes.. From PIG hater & Black South African man
James, wrote
Just as I thought, investigations ar not conducted "timelessly". I wonder if they were conducted timeously. Probably not that as well!
Muhammed, wrote
A hobby is something you enjoy doing in your spare time...a pass-time.....Here it isn't a hobby...it seem to be part of the job deion!
JC, wrote
Mo surprises! This is common knowledge to anyone who lives in Pretoria. They are nowhere to be seen during the day on the roads doing actual policing. They congregate at filling stations in groups and enjoy free coffee whilst drawing a salary.
Anonymous, wrote
Any surprise that they are called PIG's?
Mark, wrote
And Im expected to stop for these corrupt bandits and they possess the authority to shoot me if I dont. Its a shame that law enforcement is worse then the criminals. Maybe we should pay criminals for protection from the police. Very Sad state of affairs.
JR, wrote
R30,000 a week? When caught these people must not be dicisplined, they MUST be fired imediately and then prosecuted for corruption and the assets forfiture unit must claim back the monies estmated to have been obtained. Selling these assests can then be used to fund the fight to stamp out this high level of corruption. next, find out WHY no-one has actually realised these people are living lives far in excess of their normal salaries. Next what is going to happen to the rugby player on murder charges? I would think a case of self defence against an officer already subject of 4 chargesinvestigations into corruption, conduct unbecoming of a police officer etc. This man woudl be alive if his superiors had actually done their jobs properly. Now they want to employ a "General" there to run the department who does not even have the basic qualifications required by law. How can the public respect or take seriously a person whose job it is to uphold and enforce the law when by being in that position he is breakign the law?? Get something done as even I as a law abiding citizen will start to ignore the Metro.
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