More than 250 criminal cases lodged against SAPS members since 2020

12 September 2023

In response to DA parliamentary questions on the matter, the South African Police Service has revealed that 257 criminal charges have been laid against members of the South African Police Service in the Western Cape from 2020 until present. The shocking list of charges includes corruption, assault, drunken driving, rape, and murder.

According to SAPS, 100 cases were opened against SAPS members in 2020; 76 were opened in 2021; 66 were opened in 2022; and 15 have been opened thus far in 2023. These figures include:

58 cases of common assault;

17 cases of assault GBH;

43 cases of drunken driving;

8 cases of fraud;

8 cases of murder;

5 cases of corruption;

4 cases of rape.

The list also indicates that members of the SAPS have been implicated in multiple counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, drug dealing, and malicious damage to property.

The serious nature of these offences has dire consequences for the public good, and for public trust in the SAPS as an organisation. When our communities can no longer rely on their police service to conduct themselves in accordance with the law, the critical relationship between a police service and the population it serves breaks down in record time. This in turn reduces our societal ability to eradicate crime and bring offenders to book.

DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Safety Gillion Bosman says: “While I firmly believe that the majority of police officers remain upstanding and honourable guardians of the law, these revelations are deeply troubling. They indicate that senior SAPS management has created a culture of impunity in the organisation, and that little has been done to curb common offences within the ranks of the national police force. These figures once again support the DA’s argument for devolution of policing, and for greater professionalisation of the police service.”

To gain greater clarity on this issue, I will invite senior management of the SAPS in the Western Cape to appear before the Standing Committee on Community Safety as soon as is possible. We must work together to build a police service that is worthy of the public’s trust.”

Issued by Gillion Bosman, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Community Safety, 12 September 2023