SAPS management - Stability and Resources key in Policing Service Delivery | Western Cape Government

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SAPS management - Stability and Resources key in Policing Service Delivery

20 April 2015

Statement by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

It is critical that National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega ensures that the suspension process of senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, including Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer, who face a litany of serious criminal charges such as corruption, money laundering and racketeering is concluded swiftly and does not negatively affect the functioning of policing in the province.

I welcome the urgency in which the National Commissioner Phiyega, has already consulted with Premier Helen Zille and I, on this matter. However, the same sense of urgency is required from her when it comes to ensuring both stability and sufficient resources for the SAPS in the province, particularly at a provincial management level.

The loss of four senior SAPS officials in the province must not result in increased responsibilities for other management personnel who are already thinly stretched. These four posts must also not remain vacant for an extended period of time.

The Western Cape SAPS already face shortages of officers on the ground and we cannot afford to have this problem exacerbated at a management level.

I welcome the continuation of Major General Thembisile Patekile as acting Provincial Police Commissioner; however, both he and the rest of the provincial SAPS management need to be provided with the support they require to make sure the police deliver on its mandate in the province.

General Phiyega’s statements that policing in the province will not be affected by recent events must be backed by a detailed contingency plan.

The safety of the people in the Western Cape remains the number one priority for our provincial government and the National Police Commissioner must ensure this remains top of her agenda when dealing with Friday’s arrests and the suspension process that will now take place.

I also hope this disciplinary process will send a clear message to the rest of the SAPS that no one is above the law.

We cannot tolerate any form of corruption or criminality, especially from members of the police who are expected to fight crime in communities and ensure criminals are brought to book.

Media Enquiries: 

Ewald Botha
Spokesperson for Minister Plato
Cell: 079 694 1113