Nearly 800 cops axed
METRO – A total of 777 police officers have been fired from their posts because of criminal investigations.
Nearly 800 South African Police Services employees have been fired from their positions since April, according to a report by Eye Witness News.
The report based this on an alleged report by the South African Institute of Race Relations that is yet to be released.
It is reported that 777 officers have been relieved from their duties over the past eight months.
According to the media house, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate confirmed that 60 rape cases involving police officers are also being investigated.
This development may bring a smile to numerous residents as there have been criminal incidences involving officers of the law in the area.
On 25 August just before 3am, a Fairland cop and two other accomplices kicked down the door of a house in Rosettenville. The trio identified themselves as police to the victim. They assaulted him, tied both of his hands with a plastic, and also used electric objects to choke him.
Metro officers were alerted and chased the suspect; the suspect drew a fire-arm and pointed at the officers, forcing a Metro officer to shoot the suspect.
The suspect used a Z88 firearm which is a police-issued firearm. A police appointment certificate was also found on the scene of the shooting.
The member is at the Johannesburg Medium C prison awaiting trial.
In October, a Flying Squad member brought a resident to tears at a scene on 30 October in Westdene.
The resident had earlier attempted to take a photograph of the flying squad member when a state of pandemonium was unleashed.
The police had been called to attend to a scene in their property in Westdene. The pair had found two human-like ears and bones in their property occupied by tenants.
In November, a case was allegedly opened with the Sophiatown police after one of the station’s police officer assaulted a resident who was carrying a child.
A Sandton police constable was arrested in November after crime scene reports and evidence were found hidden in his room.
Last year, the South African Police Service revealed that an audit of the police’s ranks had found that 8 846 criminal charges were pending against police and there were 1 448 serving police officers convicted of serious crimes, according to a report by Africa Check.
