Jali, Popcru at odds

2003-06-01 13:22

Johannesburg - The Jali Commission will meet on Monday to discuss, among other things, the Police and Prison Civil Rights Union (Popcru) refusal to give further oral evidence.

Commission secretary Charles Frank told Sapa on Sunday: "The memorandum announcing this decision was received only on Friday evening and most commission members are in Durban this weekend."

On Saturday, Popcru accused the commission of unfairly targeting its members.

"It became evident during Popcru's head of bargaining Nkosinathi Theledi's hearing, the commission seems intent on accusing our members of various crimes and misdemeanours where most of the accusations are based on what is clearly hearsay evidence. In future we will communicate with the commission by means of a memorandum," it said.

Asked whether Popcru was being treated unfairly during by commission evidence leader advocate Vas Soni, Franks said: "Once you agree to go into the witness box you must expect to give straight answers to questions - it's no use saying 'I can't answer that question' - you either know or you don't know."

Popcru members were scheduled to give testimony about the state of the department of correctional services in Gauteng.

The commission was appointed last year by President Thabo Mbeki to investigate corruption in the country's prisons. It has already held public hearings in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.

"Popcru are important roleplayers in this process so it's important that they should continue to take part," Frank added.

- SAPA