Covid-19: Cele, SAPS leaders must give answers to reports of abuse of power by police

The Portfolio Committee on Police, and the Select Committee on Security and Justice is hosting a virtual meeting where both are being updated by the Ministry of Police, senior SAPS leadership and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on the enforcement of the State of National Disaster Regulations declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“These are unprecedented times.

“Police are working under trying times and these officers know they are frontline workers.

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“They also know that they are not safe – not from criminals, and not from Covid-19,” said Cele.

He reminded those at the meeting of officers who had died executing their duties, including the officer killed in Sandton when attending to a domestic violence incident.

Maj Gen L Rabie explained that the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) was activated in response to Covid-19.

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It is chaired by the SAPS.

“The President mandated the SAPS to ensure compliance during lockdown to minimise the spread of the virus.

“The security cluster developed an operational plan to enforce regulations and outline strategies to reduce the spread of infection while the department of health undertook containment measures.

“The operational plan includes, among others, static roadblocks on all national routes and major routes to monitor, control and ensure adherence to regulations, vehicle checkpoints and high visibility patrols,” he said.

Rabie said an analysis of robberies and burglaries at liquor outlets and schools during the lockdown period was done and they enhanced crime prevention operations based on the modus operandi and hotspot analysis.

A total of 143 arrests were made in response to these incidents; 73 arrests were made in relation to crimes at schools and 70 related to liquor.

The situation is being monitored to ensure a timeous response to the identified crime threat.

The meeting follows a commitment by the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police to call a joint meeting aimed at considering various issues around the lockdown, which have been concerning.

The main points of discussion include reports of abuse of power by SAPS members in the course of enforcing the lockdown regulations.

The committee is also receiving a progress report on the enforcement of the lockdown regulations by the SAPS.

The reports of abuse of power by law enforcement officers have been a concern to both committees, hence the need for a meeting to get to the bottom of the matter, as well as to get an update from the IPID on the progress in investigating the reported transgressions.

The intention is to ensure that all transgressions are investigated.

This is a developing story.

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