I smell a big, fat, stinking rat.
I am sure almost every single person in Edenvale was glued to their televisions on Sunday night to watch more being revealed about abusive police officers from the Edenvale SAPS.
More victims came forward, with more video footage.
Of all the testimony given, I have to focus on the Kingsley story. This is in no way reducing the seriousness of anyone else who came forward. There is a simple reason for me to look at this case, in a sense, on its own.
The NEWS reported on the Kingsley case 17 months ago, in January 2014 to be exact.
I feel the amount of time that has passed since then, until the latest revelations on television, is rather important.
Before I go any further, I think a process must be explained. Perhaps residents are not fully aware of how some things work in the SAPS.
When an officer is accused of something, the police station at which the officer is based cannot investigate the matter. It must be sent on to IPID. This group, the Independent Police Investigations Directorate, will have a look at the docket and decide if further investigations are warranted. The decision is made independent of the SAPS and senior management at the police station concerned.
Now let us get specific.
The NEWS reported on the Kingsley case in January 2014, thus making the matter public knowledge.
Senior management at the Edenvale SAPS was made aware of the claims from Mr Kingsley. Senior management said they cannot investigate one of their own officers and that the report had been forwarded on to the appropriate department.
This means the claims against the police officers concerned was most likely sent to the IPID. That’s the theory at any rate. Unfortunately, from there on out, it would be out of the hands of the Edenvale SAPS senior management. Any decisions to investigate the matter further, or indeed to take action against the police officers accused, would not be their decision. This recommendation would come from IPID.
Now we come to the big question. Was the matter reported? I am sure the paperwork will be available if the answer is yes. If yes, then why, for 17 months, did nothing happen?
The next question is who should have followed up? I do not believe that senior management would be able to do much in this regard, as the IPID is independent of the SAPS. Perhaps the CPF could have followed up, under the auspices of its oversight function.
Yet, as we have seen, there was apparently no follow-up. Was Mr Kingsley ever approached by IPID? I am of the opinion that if he was, we would have heard about it by now. That would imply he was not contacted by a person from the IPID – and why not?
If the answer is no, why did community leaders not follow up?
And this brings me to the reason why I am looking at the Kingsley case. If action had been taken when the case was initially reported, is it not possible that the other cases could have been prevented?
One must surely wonder to whom the case was reported, what investigations took place (if any) against the officer accused and what was the finding? It would also be interesting to hear what the possible reasons could be if no investigation was deemed necessary.
Would this have been communicated to the SAPS management? Unlikely.
I fear the Kingsley case, like so many other cases, ‘fell into the cracks’. As a result, abusive behaviour may well have remained unchecked, resulting in more people suffering at the hands of certain police officers.
Ultimately, who is to blame? The SAPS management, for not following up? The CPF, which could have also pressed for some action or at the least some feedback? The victim for not following up himself? Perhaps all three?
Or, just as in all aspects of employment, some corrupt individuals are also placed within IPID and can therefore make cases ‘disappear’.
No matter what your opinion, I truly believe the 17-month gap between the NEWS publishing Mr Kingsley’s case and the recent revelations is relevant. I believe that if we investigate this aspect, we may well find the answers as to why more cases of alleged abuse were able to take place.
17 months is far too long, and to repeat my opening statement, I smell a rat.
I’m just not sure if it is within the Edenvale SAPS or within the IPID.
