6 728 criminal cases against police officers were recorded during the 2012/13 financial year.
This is according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Annual Report which was presented to Parliament yesterday.
This is up from 4 923 (37 % increase) from the previous financial year.
The breakdown of cases under review by IPID for the 2012/13 financial year are as follows:
Deaths in police custody – 275
Deaths as a result of police action – 431
Complaint of the discharge of an official firearm – 670
Rape by a police officer – 146
Rape in police custody – 22
Torture – 50
Assault – 4 131
Corruption – 120
Other criminal matters – 703
Misconduct – 47
Systemic corruption – 6
Non-compliance with Section 29 of IPID Act (failure to report crimes) – 127
Alarm bells should be ringing loudly in Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s ears.
The image of SAPS continues to be battered and it is shocking that the reputation of our honest, hard working Police members is being tarnished by major criminal activities such as assault and murder.
On Minister Mthethwa and Police Commissioner, Riah Phiyega’s watch, the levels of police criminality in South Africa have continued to rise.
This can be directly attributed to poor governance and management at senior levels.
The Portfolio Committee on Police must urgently launch a full investigation into these figures, now that the report is before Parliament.
Both the Minister and the National Commissioner are held to account for this massive increase in criminal activity by police officers.
This annual report cannot be filed away as just another tick-box exercise, decisive action must be taken because our people as well as the many honest Policemen and women deserve better and it is the job of Minister Mthethwa to ensure that they receive better.