VRYHEID KZN: New ‘tool’ to help fight police corruption

In response to the many complaints received about police corruption, Corruption Watch (CW) has developed a new Veza platform that will improve transparency in policing throughout the country. It aims to put power back in the hands of the public in holding the South African Police Service (SAPS) accountable for the actions of its officers. This new interactive open data tool was inspired by engagements with communities experiencing police violence and was developed in response to the many above-mentioned complaints. Veza, meaning ‘expose’ or ‘reveal’, is a first-of-its-kind in South Africa and is hoped to improve transparency in policing in the country. The tool will provide information at national, provincial and district level. Corruption Watch head of stakeholder relations & campaigns Kavisha Pillay says the launch of the Veza tool signifies a new era for Corruption Watch “as we explore how transparency, big data and accessible technology can be used to combat corruption and advance broader social justice issues”. Since Corruption Watch’s inception in 2012, innovation has always been central to its approach in addressing systemic and pervasive corruption in South Africa. ‘Public adoption’ will determine the power of this tool, ie the more it is used and the more information is shared, the more involved they will become in how communities are policed and protected around the country. Veza offers many features, including integration with Google Maps, “which allows us to use geo-location with various data sources to plot police corruption trends and hot-spots, as well as information about all 1150 police stations across the country, such as contact information, resources, budget and personnel.” The Veza tool also enables users to rate and review police stations based on personal experience, to compare resources of up to four stations, to commend honest and ethical police officers, and to report incidents of corruption and police misconduct that are immediately geo-located through the tool. Pillay expressed gratitude to the company that created the Veza tool for the impeccable and professional service that was provided throughout the development of this project. “We collaborated, exchanged ideas, brainstormed and debated extensively during this process, and I am really proud of the product we have. “The service and engagement I had with the company’s team was amazing. Regardless of the time of day, they always responded to any queries, they were extremely patient and always delivered on their promises. We are so grateful to the entire team for working tirelessly to get the project completed,” enthused Pillay. “As a very satisfied customer, this has been a truly inspiring experience and I look forward to working with the company in adding new features and improvements,” Pillay concluded. ALSO READ:Police officer sentenced 15 years’ imprisonment for corruption

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