WHITE RIVER – Over R4 billion in civil claims have been lodged against the provincial police this year.
About R2,2 billion has been claimed by civilians for wrongful arrests and the remainder constitutes compensation for police brutality, torture and suffering while in police holding cells.
These alarming statistics were revealed by the provincial police commissioner, Lt Mondli Zuma at the two-day safety and security summit held at Ingwenyama Conference and Sports Resort on Monday and Tuesday.
Zuma explained that most of the claims were a result of complainants’ failure to attend court proceedings, especially to testify against suspects who end up being acquitted by the courts.
The suspects then sue the state for billions for wrongful arrests.
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“The community are the ones who report the cases to the police and after investigations and arrests, they do not come to court to testify,” explained Zuma.
He called for the community’s cooperation – from the time they open a case, until its completion. Zuma added that murder is increasing in the province, due to poaching and murders that are taking place at the Kruger National Park.
The 2016/17 financial year showed an increase in murder, cash-in-transit, rape and stock-theft cases.
He added that alcohol and drug abuse continued to be a contributing factor to contact crimes. He said to effectively deal with crime and law enforcement at liquor outlets and taverns, police should be relentless and consistent through Operation Thunderstorm.
“We hope that working together with the community, councillors and relevant structures will help us in our efforts to combat crime,” he said.
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Zuma revealed that rhino- proaching cases at the Kruger National Park were adding significantly to the increase in murder cases. So far this year the police are already investigatin 21 murder inquests, 11 murders and two attempted murders in the park alone.
More than 277 cases of illegal hunting, 49 cases of possession of illegal firearms and 15 cases of trespassing were also lodged by the park.
“Looking at the statistics, one can say the Kruger National Park appears to be a war zone and all these crimes come to the provincial statistics, hence, there was an increase in murder cases,” he said.
The summit was also supported by the MEC for community liaison safety and security, Mr Pat Ngomane, who emphasised that a safe and stable province was a prerequisite for economic development. “In order for the province to attract investors, there must be peace and stability,” he said.
He also spoke about the importance of functional community policing forums (CPF). He added that CPF members should be subjected to security clearance to ensure that they are loyal and trustworthy.
“I don’t believe in the saying “Send a thief to catch a thief”, the importance of street committees can never be overemphasised. We don’t have enough police officers to deploy to each and every house, but if we have trustworthy street committees and CPF members working together with the police, we will be able to defeat crime,” says Ngomane.
He added that the geographical location of the province needs to strengthen its borderline laws to curb crime along the borderlines.
Representatives from the provincial CPF structures, government, different departments and MECs from the North West and Free State attended the summit.
See gallery: Safety and Security Summit gallery
