Jeppe SAPS station commander Brig Wiseman Mthembu urged residents who have concerns about, and information on, police corruption to come forward.
His apology comes after a resident lambasted the police during a crime awareness campaign in Troyeville on November 8.
The EXPRESS previously reported that the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, accused the police of being “in cahoots with drug dealers”.
She alleged she had witnessed police accepting bribes from criminals.
She told the EXPRESS she no longer had faith in the police.
Mthembu said these were serious allegations.
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“Residents should not fear intimidation when coming forward with information on corruption.
“Any resident who sees police corruption should come forward and draft a written statement so that we can take steps against the police officer,” said Mthembu.
“These steps involve opening criminal cases if the officer has taken money or an entrapment if that person has been arrested and is suspected to have been involved in corruption.
“If there are statements or evidence that the officer has indeed been involved in corruption, strong and swift action will be taken against them.”
Mthembu confirmed that an officer belonging to the station was previously dismissed for corruption allegations against them.
He said the officer was found guilty on all the corruption charges against them.
“The community should come forward to make their suspicions known. However, community members should keep from painting everybody with the same brush. There are some honest and hard-working police officers out there,” Mthembu said.
