Durban - A top Durban police official has revealed alarming incidents involving collusion between police and criminals, warning that the culprits would “face the music”.
Brigadier Phumelele Makoba, Phoenix station commander since 2011, briefed a delegation from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during their visit on Thursday to the station to discuss crime-fighting difficulties.
Makoba said her station was battling with a high number of drug-related crimes, corruption by the police and the community, public apathy, and the failure of arrests of suspects to serve as a deterrent to crime.
“Two weeks ago three of our (police) members were suspended for their suspected involvement in various criminal activities. This is (an) indication that we (need to) strive for a better community for all, and to achieve that, law enforcers should be dedicated in one objective – to uphold the rule of law,” she said.
The Daily News understands that between 2011 and last year, seven officers at the Phoenix SAPS were suspended on similar suspicions. Five of them have since been fired after they were found guilty of misconduct.
Asked by the Daily News about the nature of crimes committed by these officers, Makoba referred the newspaper to the provincial police media centre for details.
“However, provincial police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, referred questions back to Makoba.
The brigadier said when information was made available about officers linking them to crime, it was investigated.
With regards to substance abuse-related crimes, Makoba said 171 people were arrested for theft out of motor vehicles and 374 for housebreaking, between April and August.
“These are drug-fuelled crimes and obviously the arrests are not a deterrent to the increase of drug trading.
“Another challenge is that criminals come from neighbouring informal settlements and commit crime here, then run and hide in the settlements,” said Makoba.
Umesh Singh, chairman of the Phoenix Community Policing Forum (CPF), said apathy among residents was not helping in the fight against crime.
“There’s an increase in drug arrests. Drug dealers control flats and pay rent for some of the occupants in exchange for them (the occupants) keeping the drugs,” he said.
“With regards to corrupt cops, in every field of work you find individuals who are only interested in lining their pockets. Despite this, our relationship as CPF with the station is working well. The fact that officers get suspended and fired for their involvement in corrupt activities does not affect the manpower to go ahead with the task at hand,” said Singh.
He said the community’s support was vital to getting rid of rogue police officers.
The co-chairman of ethics and members’ interest in the National Assembly, Omie Singh, who chaired on Thursday’s meeting, said the suspension of rogue officers brought hope to the service and the community.
“We welcome the fact that the station was investigating its own in an effort to root out rotten potatoes. If enough evidence is available, those investigated must be charged, tried and convicted for betraying the trust put upon them by the state,” said Omie Singh.
On Wednesday, the NCOP was in Chatsworth to listen to people’s concerns with regards to service delivery. Among the burning issues affecting the Chatsworth community was the alleged sloppiness of the police in dealing with crime.
Community members appealed to the NCOP delegation to ensure that drug peddling and police failure to tackle crime in the area was dealt with.
Deputy chairman of the Havenside Civic Association, Mohammed Mubarak, said the issue of crime in the area was linked to drug trafficking and prostitution.
“The police are failing to deal with crime. Just recently we reported a gang called the Under 17 Knight Brigade which terrorises the community. Their (police) response was that the boys were under 17 and they could not be arrested,” said Mubarak.
The NCOP delegation will draft reports on their visits to areas in eThekwini and table them in Parliament.
The council will return to the communities at the end of next month with Parliament’s recommendations.
Daily News