A total of 148 people with criminal records have been employed by the Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metro police departments, an official said on Wednesday.
Ekurhuleni had 80 employees with criminal records and Tshwane 68, Gauteng community safety spokesman Thapelo Moiloa said.
However, these figures were not reliable as the departments were checking records, and working with the SA Police Service (SAPS) and Special Investigating Unit, he said.
Democratic Alliance MPL Fred Nel described the figures as worrying, as people should be able to have faith in metro police officers.
“Section 36 of the SAPS Act prohibits a member who has been jailed from holding any position within a police force,” Nel said in a statement.
He said the regulations for municipal police services prohibited appointment of a person with a criminal conviction. - Sapa