The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will account for the cases it has been investigating since the start of the lockdown period when it appears before the Portfolio Committee of Police (PCP) tomorrow morning, 8 May.
The virtual meeting between IPID and PCP will take place between 11am and 12noon. Among the cases being reported on is that of a 38-year old constable, from the Silverton Flying Squad, who was arrested on May 1 for soliciting bribes from motorists at a roadblock.
Acting national spokesperson for IPID Sontaga Seisa said the constable was arrested during a sting operation on the R80 Mabopane Highway after IPID was informed of the alleged corruption.
Seisa added IPID offices throughout the country will be closed on specific dates to allow for the premises to be disinfected and sanitised in preparation for the return of the department’s full staff complement.
“Our services were never shut down during the lockdown, but we were affected by only having a few support personnel that were supporting our investigators who were on duty all the time,” stated Seisa. “Now that we are preparing for the return of our full staff complement to our offices, we have to ensure that we prioritise the safety of our employees and clients by letting all our offices be disinfected and sanitized against Covid-19.”
IPID offices will be closed for disinfection according to the following schedule. However, members of the public will still be able to reach IPID on the corresponding stand-by numbers provided:
- National office, Pretoria – 8 May 2020 (Standby no: 076 745 5718);
- Johannesburg – Gauteng – 8 May 2020 (Standby no: 076 745 5718);
- Mahikeng – North West – 9 May 2020 (Standby no: 078 163 6874);
- Rustenburg – North West – 9 May 2020 (Standby no: 078 163 6874);
- East London – Eastern Cape – 11 May (Standby no: 082 592 9888);
- Witbank – Mpumalanga – 12 May (Standby no: 072 881 4196);
- Nelspuit – Mpumalanga – 12 May (Standby no: 072 881 4196);
- Bloemfontein – Free State – 12 May (Standby no: 063 225 6081);
- Kimberley – Northern Cape – 12 May (Standby no: 064 624 8203);
- Durban – KwaZulu-Natal – 13 May (Standby no: 079 895 2741);
- George – Western Cape – 13 May (Standby no: 073 890 1269);
- Thohoyandou – Limpopo – 14 May (Standby no: 078 871 4811) and
- Polokwane – Limpopo – 15 May (Standby no: 078 871 4811).
The following matters fall under IPID’s mandate to investigate:
- Death in police custody;
- Death as a result of police action;
- Any complaint relating to the discharge of police firearm by a police official;
- Rape by a police official whether on or off duty;
- Rape in police custody;
- Any complaint relating to torture or assault by a police official performing or executing official duties;
- Any complaint relating to corruption within the police (initiated by the IPID executive director or received from a public member, or referred by the Minister of Police, MEC for Transport and Community Safety / MEC for Community Safety or the Secretary;
Any other matter which the IPID executive director or minister and/or MEC or secretary may refer to the executive director for his/her discretionary decision.
