Corruption in police lab - cop union

2012-09-07 20:14

(File, Sapa)

Johannesburg - Corrupt practices at the police forensic science laboratory in Silverton, Pretoria affect criminal prosecution, Popcru said on Friday.

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Gauteng secretary Matsemela Matsemela said the allegations included sabotage to services, irregular appointments and sexual harassment.

He told reporters in Johannesburg that national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega and the portfolio committee on police were informed of the allegations on June 25, but failed to act.

"Given the sensitivity of that institution and the nature of the allegations... after you received such allegations you ought to have acted," he said.

"Something is absolutely wrong there... They have the proof but they don't want to act."

Matsemela said the union had handed Phiyega a file of evidence and she had not responded.

One week for Phiyega to respond

The union said members who informed them of the allegations had been victimised through disciplinary hearings.

"These disciplinary hearings are formulated with the sole intention of creating doubt on the credibility of information provided by these members and also serve as a basis to hide corruption."

Matsemela gave the commissioner seven working days to respond to the allegations.

"We expect nothing whatsoever from her but to act on these serious corrupt activities," he said.

Phiyega called on Popcru at a meeting in August to declare "war on corruption and criminality" within the police.

Matsemela said if no action was taken on the allegations the union would organise a march to the police offices to demand answers.

- SAPA