SAPS 'dumping ground'
2003-07-06 21:08
Cape Town - South Africa's Child Protection Units are being used as the "dumping ground of undesirable police officers".
"The transfer of such members of the police to these units is making a mockery of government's commitment to child protection," said Mike Waters, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on child abuse, on Sunday.
He was reacting to an admission by Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula in parliament that eight police officers, under investigation for crimes such as rape, attempted murder, assault, theft and corruption, were transferred to child protection units.
Waters said one of the police officers, who was transferred to Mitchell's Plain, was charged with the rape of a 14-year-old.
"A person is innocent until proven guilty, but it is incredible that the South African Police Service can place a person who is a potential threat to society at a unit that has to protect those who are defenceless in society," he said.