Graft rot runs deep in police

GAUTENG: TOP COP AND OTHERS FACE CHARGES INCLUDING HIJACKING AND BLUE-LIGHT ROBBERIES

- Thando Nondywana

The recent wave of arrests within Gauteng's police force has highlighted the deep level of corruption within the South African Police Service (Saps).

In Gauteng alone, seven police officers have been arrested in the past week for various offences, including hijacking, and involvement in criminal syndicates, while other arrests included Gauteng traffic police.

One of the most significant arrests was that of the Norwood Police station commander, who was taken into custody by the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit last week.

The commander faces charges of theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice, linked to a fake operation in which goods worth R165 000 were confiscated and later disappeared.

Two more officers were arrested on Thursday for their alleged role in blue-light robberies, with links to truck hijackings and car-jackings in Kempton Park.

Chair of the portfolio committee on police Ian Cameron acknowledged the widespread corruption, citing concerns about the effectiveness of Saps' anti-corruption measures.

"There's no doubt that corruption within the police force is a systemic issue, but it does seem like there is some push-back against it. What concerns me most is the sheer scale of the problem."