Bheki Cele Blamed For Failing To Detect Criminals Within The SAPS
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) in Parliament has raised serious concerns about the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and the Intelligence Services for their alleged failure to detect criminals within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
This comes after Cele revealed in a parliamentary question that approximately 7,000 SAPS members have been criminally charged with violent crimes, including murder, robbery, and rape, over the past five financial years. Additionally, many others have been arrested for offences such as assault, trafficking, and extortion.
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Kenneth Meshoe, the leader of the ACDP, has called on the Minister of Police to take immediate action. Meshoe stated, “The minister of police must go back to the drawing board and start checking for loopholes. Why are they appointing criminals to be police officers?
If they have an effective intelligence service, why are they unable to detect these criminals before they join the police force? The public can never have confidence in the police if criminals are allowed to wear their uniforms and carry firearms. The minister must pull up his socks and address this issue.”
The revelation of such a high number of criminal charges against SAPS members has shocked the nation. It raises serious concerns about the integrity and effectiveness of the police force in South Africa. The ACDP believes that this situation undermines public trust in the police and hinders efforts to eradicate crime in the country.
One of the key questions that arises from this revelation is how criminals manage to infiltrate the police force. It is crucial to examine the recruitment and vetting processes to identify any weaknesses that may be exploited by criminals seeking to join the SAPS. The ACDP emphasizes the importance of a thorough background check and assessment of the character and integrity of potential police officers.
The Minister of Police must take immediate action to address this issue. It is imperative to strengthen the intelligence services and ensure that they have the necessary resources and capabilities to detect criminals within the police force. Furthermore, there should be a comprehensive review of the training programs and ethical standards for police officers to prevent any further infiltration by criminals.
Additionally, the ACDP calls for increased accountability and transparency within the SAPS. It is essential to establish mechanisms that allow for the reporting of misconduct and criminal activities within the police force without fear of reprisal. This will encourage whistleblowers to come forward and provide valuable information that can help identify and root out criminals within the SAPS.
The fight against crime in South Africa requires a strong and trustworthy police force. It is unacceptable for criminals to be wearing police uniforms and using firearms to perpetrate further crimes. The Minister of Police must prioritize the safety and security of the public by taking immediate action to address this issue. The ACDP will continue to hold the Minister accountable and advocate for a police force that is free from criminal elements.
