1 098 cop cases to be probed
2006-06-21 23:02
Nelspruit - A shortage of investigators has created a backlog in cases that are being investigated against dirty cops in Mpumalanga.
Provincial safety and security spokesperson Putsoa Makua said on Wednesday the independent complaints directorate (ICD) was overworked and that a staff shortage was hampering delivery.
The provincial ICD office has four investigators who are investigating 1 098 cases that have been lodged against police officers.
Makua said: "Our guys are overworked as they have to travel all over the province from their Nelspruit offices to attend to each case."
Of the cases, 176 involve deaths, 399 are serious offences, 497 concern service delivery, and 26 are domestic-violence cases against police.
Arrested five detectives
In an attempt to speed up the investigations and improve service delivery, the ICD is to establish two satellite offices - in Ermelo in the Gert Sibande district and Siyabuswa in the Nkangala district.
Makua said: "We will be employing more investigators to work at the satellite offices to spread out the personnel and bring the service closer to the complainants."
He commended the ICD for their efforts to date.
"We have to congratulate them, especially since they arrested five detectives accused of beating up a suspect and a White River officer accused of raping a complainant inside the police station," he said.
The detectives are out on R1 000 bail each on charges of attempted murder, while the White River policeman has been suspended from work and charged with rape.
Both cases are still being heard.
Makua said the department had also set aside R3.5m for its police monitoring and evaluation programme.
"The programme will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service in Mpumalanga," said Makua.