Still no action against Hawks head
The police have still not taken action against Maj Gen Simon Mapyane, the head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, despite fraud charges against him.
NELSPRUIT – The police have still not taken action against the head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga. Maj Gen Simon Mapyane was first arrested on May 22 after allegedly submitting false travel claims of approximately R7 000 in 2010.
It was reported that an additional charge of fraud has since been added for another travel claim which Mapyane allegedly submitted in 2012. It is alleged that he visited scenes of unrest in Ogies with members of the Hawks in a bus, but afterwards submitted a claim that he took his personal vehicle to the scene. Genl Riah Phiyega, national police head, has not taken any steps against Mapyane.
Mr Anthony Benadie, provincial leader of the official opposition, said that in previous correspondence with the DA, Phiyega kept her responses as vague as possible, saying that certain “internal prescripts” had to be followed before any action could be taken.
“It is critical that all members of the police, especially those in command, led by example in the fight against crime. Phyiega's failure to act against the top brass, sends a disturbing message over government's commitment to protecting South Africa's people against criminals and criminal behaviour,” he said.
Ms Dianne Kohler Barnard, member of parliament and the DA's shadow minister of police, said last week that there has been a 37 per cent increase in criminal cases against police officers. According to Barnard, a total of 6 728 criminal cases against officials were recorded during the 2012/13 financial year, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) Annual Report.
Of these, the Ipid was reviewing 4 131 cases of assault, 703 other criminal matters, 670 complaints of the discharge of an official firearm, 431 deaths as a result of police action, 275 deaths in police custody, 146 cases of alleged rape by a police officer , 127 instances of failures to report crimes, 120 corruption charges, 50 instances of alleged torture, 47 cases of misconduct, 22 rapes in police custody and six cases of systemic corruption.
“The image of SAPS continues to be battered due to a seemingly endless stream of reports detailing incompetence, corruption, fraud, bullying as well as the major criminal activities such as assault and murder,” Barnard said. “On Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Phiyega's watch, the levels of police criminality and brutality in our country have continued to rise. This can be directly attributed to poor governance and management at senior levels.”
Mapyane is set to appear in court again on November 27.
