SAPS has to deploy colonel who exposed corruption to a similar position and must compensate him

Judge Robert Lagrange today passed judgment in the Johannesburg Labour Court in the controversial crime intelligence case Solidarity brought on behalf of Col. Kobus Roos against the South African Police Service (SAPS). Judge Lagrange ruled that Roos be deployed to a similar position in crime intelligence as the one he had held before the protected disclosure. The court also awarded compensation equivalent to four months' salary to Roos.

Johan Kruger, Solidarity spokesperson, says the court also ordered that Roos be given preference when applying for a position or promotion in crime intelligence. ‘We are satisfied with the judgment although no compensation can make amends for all Roos had to endure during the past three and a half years. We are, however, pleased that Roos can now continue his work in crime intelligence after he had been transferred to a post which left him idle. Roos was marginalised simply because he was good at his job and exposed corruption.'

Kruger says the SAPS was ordered to pay Solidarity's legal costs. According to Kruger, it is sad that the SAPS wasted taxpayers' money to let this go to court only to concede in court that it had unfairly treated Roos. ‘The issue was deliberately taken to trial only to capitulate when the court battle started. It is a shocking waste of taxpayers' money'.

Col Roos, who has been in the SAPS for the past 26 years, is currently working in Crime Intelligence's inspection and evaluation department. This department has never been functional and has actually been scrapped. Roos was deployed to this department by Richard Mdluli, suspended head of the crime intelligence unit, after he had disclosed allegations and proof of corruption in crime intelligence in a protected disclosure.

Previously, Roos had been acting head of the internal audit department in crime intelligence and was, among others, responsible for audits of the so-called secret service account. Mdluli appointed Roos to investigate this account among others; later he halted the investigation and after that he deployed Roos to the position he currently holds.

Statement issued by Johan Kruger, Spokesperson: Solidarity, April 22 2014

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