Concerns over lack of sanctions for ‘ill-disciplined’ police officers

DISRESPECT FOR THE LAW

- NADIA KHAN

ACCORDING to crime analysts, the lack of sanctions being imposed on “ill-disciplined” police officers has been an ongoing concern, which could impact public respect and trust in the SAPS if not urgently addressed.

This comes after the recent acquittal of eight members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP Protection Unit following a SAPS internal disciplinary process.

In a viral video on social media, the members were filmed allegedly assaulting civilians on the N1 highway in Johannesburg in July 2023. They allegedly dragged a driver and two passengers out of a vehicle and repeatedly kicked them as they lay on the ground. The criminal trial is currently ongoing.

On the back of this, an analysis compiled by David Bruce, a policing research consultant to the Institute for Security Studies, showed that 6 154 of 7 946 disciplinary cases against SAPS members investigated over the past five years, ended without sanction.

Bruce said the analysis was based on SAPS annual reports between the financial years, April 2019/March 2020 to April 2023/March 2024.

According to the SAPS annual reports, some of the misconduct addressed at disciplinary hearings were the violations of various regulations, such as a police officer performing any act or failing to perform any act or failed to perform any act with the intention to cause harm to or prejudice the interest of the SAPS, failed to carry out a lawful order or routine instruction, reported on duty while under the influence of liquor, or conducted himself or herself in an improper, disgraceful and unacceptable manner, among others.

The regulations included serious crimes such as murder, assault GBH, rape, torture, corruption, defeating the course of justice, or theft.

Bruce said the decision not to sanction the eight members in a case with such “strong evidence” would encourage SAPS members to disregard standards regarding the use of force.