SAPS 163 SUSPENDED OFFICERS CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION, THEFT , MURDER , SEXUAL HARASSMENT @KASIBC_NEWS

SAPS 163 SUSPENDED OFFICERS CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION,  THEFT , MURDER , SEXUAL HARASSMENT @KASIBC_NEWS

During the 2023/24 financial year, at total of 163 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers and officials were suspended after being charged with a plethora of serious allegations. 

These suspensions placed a financial burden of R8,287,050.34 on the SAPS Budget and the people of South Africa. This information was made available to RISE Mzansi in a reply to a written parliamentary question.

SAPS officers and officials, with ranks ranging from Administrative Clerk all the way to a Lieutenant-General, were charged with a number of serious offences, including but limited to robbery, corruption, extortion, sexual harassment, and kidnapping.

Moreover, in the same reply, the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, states that 16 SAPS officers and officials are currently under suspension, with ranks ranging from Administrative Clerk to that of Lieutenant-General. Once again, they face serious offences, including but not limited to, murder, business robbery, kidnapping, and the misuse of funds.

A full list of ranks and offences can be found in the attached reply.

While these officers and officials dwarf in comparison to the almost 200,000 employees of SAPS, it is still of deep concern that men and women who commit to maintaining the law find themselves on the wrong side of it. 

This only serves to further undermine trust in the SAPS, and their ability to combat crime and enforce the law.

One crooked police officer is one crooked police officer too many.

RISE will continue to probe cases of suspension within the SAPS and whether indeed, once found guilty of the offence, the officers and officials were relieved of their duties, and in the instance of a criminal offence if charges were laid against the officers and officials.