Pretoria police investigators applauded for successful convictions
General Elias Mawela Gauteng as Provincial Commissioner has commended investigators after a number of suspects were convicted for serious and violent crimes.
Two Pretoria police stations have been applauded for securing successful convictions.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela commended Wierdabrug and Boschkop police investigators after a court had handed down a 30 years direct imprisonment sentence to a house robber and rapist.
The convict further received three years for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
A number of suspects were convicted for serious and violent crimes including murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape and robbery throughout the province.
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Last week, Mawela visited 23 of 40 “priority” police stations where he engaged with the communities towards enhanced community-police relations.
“What has been of concern at most of these engagements, is allegations against police where victims of crime complained about dockets going missing, police colluding with suspects, and getting no feedback about reported cases,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.
Peters said other cases for which convictions were secured were for sexual assault and possession of the stolen motor vehicle in Soshanguve as well as a serial rapist who will serve an effective 110 years behind bars for rape and robbery committed in 2016 in Cleveland.
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Four suspects, all former employees of the Johannesburg metro police department, were found guilty of theft of a motor vehicle, corruption and defeating the ends of justice and their sentences range from 8 to 10 years.
“Instead of presenting a stolen motor vehicle to the police to be impounded, the suspects sent the vehicle to a scrapyard and the owner of the car opened a case at Orlando police station,” said Peters.
Peters said it was within this context that the provincial commissioner saw it fit to commend investigators, most of whom were low ranking officers, for restoring public confidence.
“These investigators had a choice to make a ‘quick buck’ and make the dockets disappear but instead, they remained true to the calling to serve and to protect,” said Mawela.
“This exemplary conduct and conviction to the service must be emulated by their peers.”
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