Still no allegations against hawks head

NELSPRUIT – Allegations of additional fraud charges being laid against the head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga have apparently not expedited possible police action against him.

Maj Gen Simon Mapyane was first arrested on May 22 after allegedly submitting false travel claims of approximately R7 000 in 2010. It was reported that an additional charge of fraud has since been added for another travel claim which Mapyane submitted in 2012. It is alleged that he visited scenes of unrest in Ogies with members of the Hawks in a bus, but afterwards submitted a claim alleging that he had used his personal vehicle for the visit.

Genl Riah Phiyega, national police head, has not taken any steps against Mapyane. According to the national police spokesman, Lt Gen Makgale Solomon, an internal process regarding the criminal investigation is currently underway.

“When the issue came up for the first time a few weeks ago, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela, the provincial police commissioner, was requested to provide a report stating the facts of the matter. Then, in line with internal disciplinary policies, Mapyane was requested to submit a report that would assist management in deciding whether there was misconduct or not.”

Solomon said an executive manager from outside Mpumalanga was appointed to deal with the matter and had recently finalised his report after interviewing all the parties involved and scrutinising the submitted reports.

“The report is under consideration by Gen Riah Phiyega, the national police commissioner, and a decision regarding the way forward will be made soon,” Solomon said.

Ms Dianne Kohler Barnard, member of parliament and the DA’s shadow minister of police, said last week that there has been a 37 per cent increase in criminal cases against police officers. According to Barnard, a total of 6 728 criminal cases against officials were recorded during the 2012/13 financial year, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Annual Report.

Of these, the Ipid was reviewing 4 131 cases of assault, 703 other criminal matters, 670 complaints of the discharge of an official firearm, 431 deaths as a result of police action, 275 deaths in police custody, 146 cases of alleged rape by a police officer, 127 instances of failure to report crimes, 120 corruption charges, 50 instances of alleged torture, 47 cases of misconduct, 22 rapes in police custody and six cases of systemic corruption.

“The image of SAPS continues to be battered due to a seemingly endless stream of reports detailing incompetence, corruption, fraud, bullying as well as the major criminal activities such as assault and murder,” Barnard said. On police minister Nathi Mthethwa and Phiyega’s watch, the levels of police criminality and brutality in our country have continued to rise. This can be directly attributed to poor governance and management at senior level.”

Mapyane is set to appear in court again on November 27.