Johannesburg - Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu must investigate corruption allegations involving high-level police officers, trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday.
“We call on minister Sisulu to make this matter the first assignment for her department's new anti-corruption bureau,” spokesman Johan Kruger said in a statement.
“Such a step would confirm that Minister Sisulu is indeed serious about clamping down on corruption.”
Solidarity said it had written to Sisulu asking her to probe the matter.
This was after weekend reports that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, former national police commissioner Bheki Cele, and senior generals had known about the existence of evidence showing rampant fraud, corruption, and looting of the police's crime intelligence secret fund for years. However, nothing reportedly had been done.
City Press reported on Sunday that the claim was made in a dossier before the Labour Court as part of a former police auditor's battle with the SA Police Service.
The newspaper said it was in possession of secret reports and official documents in which Colonel Johan Roos, the head of inspection and evaluation of the crime intelligence unit, asked the court to force police to promote him to brigadier and reinstate him as an auditor.
The documents reportedly detailed how Roos had since 2004 reported the fund's alleged looting to his superiors in an effort to stop it.
Mthethwa's spokesman, Zweli Mnisi, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday but told City Press that the minister dismissed any allegations of a cover-up and that the matter was before the court and was therefore sub judice.
Solidarity said it was representing Roos in a discrimination case in the Labour Court in Johannesburg.
“The information that came to light over the weekend is a central part of the case,” Kruger said.
“Although Solidarity can assist Roos only in so far as the labour dispute is concerned, no stone should be left unturned to thoroughly investigate the allegations of corruption that has gone unpunished.”
He said the labour court case was at an advanced stage and a trial date was expected soon. - Sapa