Alleged police misconduct figures shock

This year, two cases of alleged crimes by police officers in Carletonville and Khutsong made headlines.
According to Mr Thabo Molelekwa of the organisation, Viewfinder, however, there are many more. They are busy with long-term investi- gations into the abuse of power, which impacts the public interest, specifically, as it relates to the need for equality and redress in post-apartheid South Africa.
“We recently launched our current investigation, ‘Above the Law’, which sheds light on the systemic failure of SAPS to protect the South African communities and protect the abusers within its ranks instead. Our investigation is based on Ipid data, which shows that the police in South Africa have been accused of more than 47,000 crimes and other misconduct between 2012 to March 2020. And yet, the conviction rate for police officers accused of serious crimes is incredibly low,” he told the Herald.
According to Ipid statistics, five assaults were reported in the Carletonville policing area and one rape and four assaults in Khutsong from March 2019 to April 2020.
During the 2018/19 financial year, the police shot one person and assaulted two suspects in the Carletonville policing area.
A suspect died of poisoning while in police custody in Khutsong and there was also a corruption case against a Khutsong police officer. Four suspects were allegedly assaulted by the Khutsong police this year.
During the 2017/18 Ipid financial year, two assaults and three shootings were reported for Carletonville.
The Ipid statistics show that things were chaotic in the 2016/17 financial year. In Carletonville, there were six shootings and one death – a killing during a vehicle accident – and a shooting and two assaults in Khutsong.
In 2015/16, Ipid investigated two killings, a rape and five assaults in Carletonville. There were also four assaults and a killing in Khutsong; one suspect died of natural causes while in police custody.
In 2014/15, a killing and four assaults were reported in Carletonville. Two killings, a death in custody and a corruption case were registered in Khutsong.
During 2013/14, there were a killing, an attempted murder and four assaults in Carletonville and four assaults in Khutsong.
In 2012/13, there were four assaults, shooting and corruption in Carletonville. Two assaults were also reported in Khutsong.
Of all the cases, only one police officer was convicted, for a killing in Carletonville. The suspect died during an arrest in the 2014/15 financial year.
“But this story isn’t only about numbers, data and a high-level investigation. It is also about the relationship between every police station and the communities they are tasked to serve.
“We are asking for assistance in mobilising the police brutality victims and concerned community members to share their experiences and questions with us.
The public can reach us on our WhatsApp line at 0665335142 or email us at info@viewfinder.org.za,” says Molelekwa.